How to Enable 2 Step Verification for Google Account?

Google has one of the biggest user base in the word with Gmail account. The more popular Google accounts are the more vulnerable they are for hacking. Though you can keep strong password, it is essential to protect your Google account with additional layer of protection. 2 step verification for Google account will help you to use additional mobile for logging into your account. This will ensure that no other person can login without the mobile device. In addition, you can also use variety of other options as backup to make sure you are not locked out of your account.

Related: How to setup 2 factor verification in SiteGround hosting?

How 2 Step Verification Works with Google Account?

Before discussing how to enable 2 step verification, here is how it works.

• You have to enable it from your account page.
• Whenever you login to your account, first you need to enter email and password like normal.
• After that, Google will prompt you to enter the second verification. Without having second verification, you will not be able to login to your account.
• You have to register your mobile phone number to get code for second verification. Alternatively, it is possible to use any Authenticator app to automatically generate the authentication code.
• After enabling second verification, you have to enable backup options so that you will not be locked out of your account. There are multiple backup options available like getting set of backup codes, add backup mobile number, etc.

We strongly recommend to setup 2 step verification for Google accounts you use to protect from hackers and unauthorized logins. This is useful even if someone can hack your password, they will not be able to login to your account without second verification.

How to Enable 2 Step Verification for Google Account?

Follow the below instructions to enable 2 step verification for Google account.

Step #1 – Starting with 2 Step Verification

• Go to Google account page and click on the “Go to Google Account” button on top right corner. Login with your Gmail username and password.
• After logging in, go to “Security” section and click on “2-Step Verification” option. By default, this option will show “Off”.

• You will see the below screen. Click on “Learn more” link to understand how 2-step verifications process works. Click “Get Started” button to proceed further.

Step #2 – Choosing Verification Options

On the next screen, type your phone number. Generally, Google will automatically pick up the number from your account details if you have already provided.

There are four options for choosing 2 step verification for Google account.

• Text message – you will get a text message on your mobile number whenever trying to login with your email and password.
• Phone call – instead of a text message, you will get a phone call from Google as a second verification method.
• Security key – you can use any security USB device to generate code for logging into your account.
• Google Prompt – install Google Prompt on your phone and allow every time when you login using desktop device.

The easy and popular option here is to choose for test message. Select that option and click on “Next” button to proceed further.

Step #3 – Verify Your Mobile

Google will send a 6 digit code to the mobile number you have provided. Enter the code and verify you mobile number and confirm the process is working. You will see a success message like below indicating the 2 step verification for Google account is enabled successfully and working fine.

Related: How to import and export password in Google Chrome?

Step #4 – Available Backup Options

After setting up mobile verification, it is essential to setup an additional backup method. You can use this backup option if your 2 step verification is not working or you lost your mobile or SIM card. You have the following backup options:

• Backup codes – get a list of backup codes that you can use instead of mobile message.
• Google prompts – get a notification on the logged mobile device to allow access.
• Authenticator app – there are many authenticator apps available to generate the verification code automatically. You can use wither Google Authenticator app or the app from Microsoft or any other authenticator app for that matter.
• Backup phone – add additional phone to use in case if you lost your verified phone.
• Security Key – use built-in security key using USB or Bluetooth if you have a device for that.

We will explain the backup codes and authenticator app options in this article. You can setup any of your favorite option for your account.

Step $5 – Get Backup Codes

Click on the “Setup” link under Backup codes option. Google will show you 10 backup codes that you can use in case if you are not able to get the text message on your verified mobile device. You can download the list to your computer or print out for keeping it offline. Remember, you can use each backup code once which means you can login 10 times using 10 codes.

Step #6 – Using Authenticator App

Most easy way to use 2 step verification for Google account is to use any authenticator app. The advantage here is that you can single app for generating verification code different services like Google, Microsoft, etc. Here we will explain with Microsoft Authenticator app, you can use Google or any other authenticator app for this purpose.

• First install Authenticator app from Google Play Store on Android phones. If you are using iPhone, install the app from your App Store.
• Click on “Authenticator app” under “Backup codes” option.
• You will see a QR code like below.

• Open Authenticator app on your phone and tap on “Other (Google, Facebook, etc.)” option.

• Scan the QR code to add your Google account to the app.

• After adding to Authenticator app, your Google account will show a success message like below.

Step #7 – Check and Disable Enabled Options

You can check the enabled 2 step verification options under your account. Any point of time, you can get the backup code, change verified phone or delete Authenticator app. You can also change the default method for 2 step verifications.

Remember, whenever you login to your account Google will show you an additional option for ignoring 2 step verification (2SV) on that device. If you are the only person using your computer, then enable the checkbox so that you do not need to get the verification code every time when logging in. When your or any other person trying to login on other devices need to enter the 2 step verification for Google account in order to login to your account.