To make sure you can get back into your Google Account if you ever can’t sign in, add recovery information.
Important: If you use an account through your work, school, or other groups, these steps may not work. Ask your administrator for help.
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
Add a recovery phone number- Go to your Google Account.
- On the left navigation panel, click Personal info.
- Under "Contact info," click Phone
Set up.
- To add a recovery phone number, follow the steps on the screen.
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Go to your Google Account.
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On the left navigation panel, click Personal info.
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Under "Contact info," click Phone
- Change your recovery phone: Next to your number, click Edit
.
- Delete your recovery phone: Next to your number, click Delete
.
- Change your recovery phone: Next to your number, click Edit
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Follow the steps on the screen.
Tip: If you delete your recovery phone number, it may still 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
Add a recovery email address- Go to your Google Account.
- On the left navigation panel, click Personal info.
- Under "Contact info," click Email.
- Under "Recovery email," click Add recovery email. You might need to sign in.
- Follow the steps on the screen.
- Go to your Google Account.
- On the left navigation panel, click Personal info.
- Under "Contact info," click Email.
- Under "Recovery email," click on your current recovery address. You might need to sign in.
- Enter the new recovery email. Then click Verify.
- 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.
Recovery phone numberHere 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.
