Your Google Account has content that’s important to you, like emails, documents, photos, and Play purchases. Protect your account with recovery info and backups to help you sign in if:
- Your password is forgotten
- Your phone is lost
- Your account is hacked
Step 1: Protect your account with recovery info
Recovery info helps you get back in to your account if you’re locked out.
Add or update your recovery phone number
- Sign in to the recovery phone section of your Google Account.
- From here, you can:
- Select Add a recovery phone.
- Change your recovery phone: Next to your number, select Edit
.
- Delete your recovery phone: Next to your number, select Delete
.
- Follow the steps on the screen.
Note: Deleting your recovery phone number doesn’t delete it from being used for other Google services. Go to your account to manage your phone numbers.
Which number to use
Use a mobile phone that:
- Gets text messages
- Belongs only to you
- You use regularly and keep with you
Add or update your recovery email address
- Go to the recovery email section of your Google Account. You might need to sign in.
- From here, you can:
- Select Add a recovery email.
- Change or delete your recovery email: Next to your email, select Edit
.
- Follow the steps on the screen.
Which email to use
Choose an email address that:
- You use regularly
- Is different from the one you use to sign in to your Google Account
How recovery info is used
Here are some ways your recovery phone number can be used:
- To help you get in to your account if you forget your password or can't sign in for another reason
- To block someone from using your account without your permission
- To tell you if there’s suspicious activity on your account
If your recovery phone number is the same as another phone number you’ve added to your account, it might be used for other purposes. Learn more about how phone numbers are used.
Here are some ways your recovery email address can be used:
- To help you get in to your account if you forget your password or can't sign in for another reason
- To tell you if there’s suspicious activity on your account
- To let you know if you're about to run out of storage space
Step 2: Set up more ways to sign in
You can add more ways to sign in and prove you own your account.
You can sign in with your phone instead of a password. If you forget your password, it's helpful to have another way to sign in.
Add more ways to prove it’s you
Set up phone prompts
To sign in, you can tap a prompt that Google sends to your phone. Phone prompts help improve the security of your account and are faster than entering a code.
Store backup codes
If you can’t use your phone, backup codes can help you get in to your account. You can download backup codes to a device or print and store them in a safe place.
Get codes from an app
You can get codes to sign in to your account, even if you can’t get text messages. Learn how to install the Google Authenticator app to get codes on your phone.
Set up a security key
Security keys are one of the most secure second steps you can use with your Google Account. Learn how to use a security key.
When you sign in from a new place, Google might ask you to take an extra step to check that it’s you. Follow these tips to be better prepared when you travel.
1. Update your recovery info
Make sure that you can still use your recovery phone number and email address. That way, we can help you get back in to your account if you can’t sign in.
2. Set up a way to prove it’s you
Before you leave, set up your recovery phone to help you use your account while you travel. Keep this phone with you during your trip.
Prove you own your account using text message verification codes
Make sure your recovery phone can get text messages while you’re traveling.
Prove you own your account using phone prompts
To use phone prompts, you’ll need an active internet connection on your recovery phone.
If you sign in with just a password:
Make sure to add your Google Account to your recovery phone before you start traveling.
If you use 2-Step Verification:
- Follow the steps to set up phone prompts before you start traveling.
- Stay signed in to your recovery phone or Google apps while you travel.
3. Add more ways to prove it’s you
If 2-Step Verification is turned on, you can add more ways to prove it’s you.
Step 3: Make your account more secure
Help make sure only you can get in to your account with these tips.
Fix problems
Can't sign in
Go to the account recovery page, and answer the questions as best you can. These tips can help.
Use the account recovery page if:
- You forgot your password.
- Someone changed your password.
- Someone deleted your account.
- You can’t sign in for another reason.
Tip: To make sure you’re trying to sign in to the right account, try recovering your username.
Can't change recovery info
If there’s something different about how you’re signing in, you might not have the option to change your recovery info. You can try again:
- From a device you normally use to sign in.
- From a location where you normally sign in.
- The following week from the device that you’re currently using.