To make sure you can get back into your Google Account if you ever can’t sign in, add recovery information.
How recovery info helps you
A recovery phone number or email address helps you reset your password if:
- You forget your password
- Someone else is using your account
- You’re locked out of your account for another reason
Tip: If you change your recovery phone or email, Google may still offer to send verification codes to your previous recovery phone number or email address for 7 days. If someone starts to use your account without your permission, this allows you to quickly secure your settings.
Add or change a recovery phone number
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Open your device's Settings app and tapGoogle
Manage your Google Account. -
At the top, tap Security.
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Under "Ways we can verify it's you," tap Recovery phone. You might need to sign in.
- From here, you can:
- Add a recovery phone.
- Change your recovery phone: Next to your number, tapEdit .
- Delete your recovery phone: Next to your number, tapDelete .
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Follow the steps on the screen.
Manage your Google Account.
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.Tip:Ifyou delete your recovery phone number, it maystill be used for other Google services. To manage your phone numbers,go to your account.
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 change a recovery email address
-
Open your device's Settings app and tapGoogle
Manage your Google Account. -
At the top, tap Security.
-
Under "Ways we can verify it's you," tap Recovery email. You might need to sign in.
- From here, you can:
- Add a recovery email.
- Change or delete your recovery email.
-
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
Recovery info helps you get back into your account and helps keep your account secure.
Here are some ways your recovery phone number can be used:
- To send you a code to get into your account if you’re ever locked out
- To block someone from using your account without your permission
- To make it easier for you to prove that an account is yours
- 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 confirm your username after you create an email address
- To help you get into your account if you forget your password or can't sign in for another reason
- To let you know if you're about to run out of storage space
- To tell you if there’s suspicious activity on your account
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.
Get step-by-step visual guides on the tools and practices that will help you protect your personal information with Google's Online Security Guidebook.
