Set up 2 Step Verification in Gmail
This article teaches you how to enable a secondary verification device for signing into Gmail.
Steps
- Go to Google's "My Account" page. You can find it at the following address: https://myaccount.google.com/
- If you aren't signed into your Google account, click Sign in in the top-right corner of the page and enter your Google account email address and password.
- Click Sign-in & security. It's on the left side of the page.
- Scroll down and click 2-Step Verification. You'll see this option on the right side of the page in the "Password & sign-in method" section.
- If you see "On" to the right of 2-Step Verification, it's already set up.
- Click GET STARTED. It's a blue button in the bottom-right corner of the page.
- Enter your Google account password. This step is to confirm your identity with Google before continuing.
- If you're signed in on the wrong account, click Sign in with a different account.
- Click Sign in. Doing so will confirm your identity and take you to the next page.
- Enter your phone number. Do so in the text field below the "What phone number do you want to use?" heading.
- Click a code option. You can select Text message to receive a code in text form, or you can click Phone call to receive an audible rendition of the code.
- Click Next. It's in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Doing so will prompt Google to send a code to you according to your selected option above.
- Retrieve your code from Google. You'll do so either by answering a phone call and listening to the numbers, or by opening your phone's Messages app and reading the new text from a five-digit number.
- Type in your code. You'll do so in the text field in the middle of the page.
- Click Next. It's in the bottom-right corner of the page.
- Click TURN ON. This blue button is at the top of the page. Clicking it will enable two-step verification for your Google account; whenever you log into a new device, you'll be prompted to enter a code delivered to your phone.
Tips
- Google strongly recommends creating a backup verification method on the "2-Step Verification" page. You can do this at any time by going to the Sign-in & security section of "My Account", clicking the enabled 2-Step Verification button, and selecting an option.
- Even with 2-step verification set up, you should still change your password substantially from time to time.
- You can click REVOKE ALL at the bottom of the "2-Step Verification" page to sign out of Google on all signed-in devices.
Warnings
- If you lose access to your phone number and you don't have a backup set, you will need to contact Google.
