Account Recovery Policy

I have forgotten my password, what should I do?

We have provided a system that allows members to generate an emergency account recovery key. In the event of forgetting/losing either your password or username, this key can be used to recover your own account (a link for this can be found on the Sign In page). As indicated when the key is generated, the key must be kept in a safe place because it is the only other guaranteed method you can use to gain access to your account. The capability of generating recovery keys has been in place since August 2014. Visiting your account page at any point since that date would have provided a clear warning if a recovery key had not been created.

I do not have a recovery key, why can't you just reset my password?

As outlined in our privacy policy, accounts are anonymous. We do not keep any personal data, including email addresses. The only way to prove account ownership is being in possession of the correct username/password combination to be able to access that particular account. Keeping your username/password combination safe is your responsibility and generally we are unable to assist in matters of account recovery. You could imagine the chaos if the password of any account were reset upon request.

If you can't reset my password, can you delete my account?

The same principle applies to requests to delete accounts. Only the account owner can do this from their account page once they have authenticated account ownership by signing in.

Is there nothing else I can do?

In very rare cases you may be able to demonstrate you own a particular account. But please note that our primary responsibility is to protect accounts and the level of evidence required would need to be compelling. Also, keep in mind that there is no way to genuinely distinguish between someone who has forgotten their password and someone who has discovered that their preferred username has already been taken, even if you use that username on multiple other platforms.

Generally speaking, it is unlikely you will be able to prove that you own an anonymous account. We recognise how frustrating all of this may appear, but we hope that you understand the need for taking such precautions to protect the accounts of our members.

I have carefully read all of the information on this page and wish to provide evidence of account ownership.

If you believe that you have sufficient evidence to demonstrate account ownership, contact privacy@projecteuler.net by email, ensuring that you include your username along with your evidence. Before emailing, please consider if you can provide details that only the account owner would know, such as the specific dates and times of your last few successful solves. Under no circumstances share your password. That belongs to you and should never be shared with anyone else. Please be aware that responses may take a long time and emails that fail to either respect our policy on this matter or follow the guidance given will be ignored.