After using gmail a few minutes, I get the message : "Unusal Usage -- Account Temporarily Locked Down". 20 mins later, i regain access, the message reappears
10 days ago gmail started locking me out of my account with this message. It's always the same sequence: I open gmail, do a few light tasks (e.g., sending a message without attachments, reviewing my sent messages, etc) and in the middle of an operation (sending or saving a message or ewhatever, doesn't matter), gmail freezes, I click on the x to leave the page and exit. When I try to re-enter I get the above message "Unusal Usage -- Account Temporarily Locked Down". Gmail won't let me in. 20 to 30 mins. later I can re-enter, and the cycle described above is repeated.
Chosen solution
When you have a problem with one particular site, a good "first thing to try" is clearing your Firefox cache and deleting your saved cookies for the site.
(1) Bypass Firefox's Cache
Use Ctrl+Shift+r to reload the page fresh from the server. For Mac, Command+Shift+r
Alternately, you also can clear Firefox's cache completely using:
orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Options > Advanced
On Mac, Firefox > Preferences > Advanced
On the Network mini-tab > Cached Web Content : "Clear Now"
If you have a large hard drive, this might take a few minutes.
(2) Remove your google.com cookies (save any pending work first). While viewing a page on the site:
- right-click and choose View Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"
- Alt+t (open the classic Tools menu) > Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"
Then try reloading the page and logging in again. Does that help?
There have been a lot of posts on Google support groups about this message ((site:productforums.google.com or site:groups.google.com) unusual usage account temporarily locked down - Google Search), but after reviewing the suggestions, unless you are accessing the same account on multiple devices simultaneously (e.g., PC + mobile devices), there's probably nothing that you're doing wrong.
If you are using your account on an insecure network (e.g., open wi-fi), make sure you are accessing Gmail using HTTPS -- not unencrypted HTTP -- to reduce the risk of someone hijacking your session.
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Chosen Solution
When you have a problem with one particular site, a good "first thing to try" is clearing your Firefox cache and deleting your saved cookies for the site.
(1) Bypass Firefox's Cache
Use Ctrl+Shift+r to reload the page fresh from the server. For Mac, Command+Shift+r
Alternately, you also can clear Firefox's cache completely using:
orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Options > Advanced
On Mac, Firefox > Preferences > Advanced
On the Network mini-tab > Cached Web Content : "Clear Now"
If you have a large hard drive, this might take a few minutes.
(2) Remove your google.com cookies (save any pending work first). While viewing a page on the site:
- right-click and choose View Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"
- Alt+t (open the classic Tools menu) > Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"
Then try reloading the page and logging in again. Does that help?
There have been a lot of posts on Google support groups about this message ((site:productforums.google.com or site:groups.google.com) unusual usage account temporarily locked down - Google Search), but after reviewing the suggestions, unless you are accessing the same account on multiple devices simultaneously (e.g., PC + mobile devices), there's probably nothing that you're doing wrong.
If you are using your account on an insecure network (e.g., open wi-fi), make sure you are accessing Gmail using HTTPS -- not unencrypted HTTP -- to reduce the risk of someone hijacking your session.
Modified by jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
Thanks so much jscher2000. While you were typing THE SOLUTION, which worked, something told me to try clearing the cache. And sure enough, it worked. Along the way though, I did some overdue general housekeeping, and closed a bunch of open tabs on my browser and a bunch more on my computer. I think that helped too.