Setting an old site to private.
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I need to either delete an old WordPress site, delete the contents of the site, or set it to private. This was a separate account created by myself about 20 years ago. When I try to log into this old account, I am told it is blocked for security reasons. The problem is the email associated with the account is no longer active, so trying to create a new password will not work. I also do not have the verification info (e.g., two factor authentication codes) requested for account recovery. Please – I would be content if the old account was set to private.
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Hi there,
Even though you can’t access the original email, there are a few things worth trying before anything else. If you ever connected a Google, Apple, or GitHub account to that old WordPress.com account, you can log in directly through that social login without needing the email at all. It’s also worth checking your browser’s saved passwords for any entries on wordpress.com, as sometimes an old login is still stored there.
If none of those work, the next step would be to fill out our Account Recovery form here: https://wordpress.com/wp-login.php?action=recovery
This form accepts a few different types of verification beyond two-factor authentication codes. For example, if you ever made a purchase on that account, a transaction ID from a bank or PayPal statement would work. Here’s how you can locate a transaction ID from your banking statement: https://wordpress.com/support/billing-history/#retrieve-a-transaction-id
You can also use the activation URL from the original signup confirmation email WordPress.com sent when you first created the account. If you still have access to any old email archives, try searching for messages from wordpress.com or (email visible only to moderators and staff) to see if anything turns up. You can learn more about the full process here: https://wordpress.com/support/account-recovery/verify-ownership/
If none of those verification options are available to you, there’s still a way forward for what you’re looking for. You can email our team directly at help@wordpress.com so we can walk you through alternatives.
I hope one of these paths gets this sorted for you!
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