Sign in faster with 2-Step Verification phone prompts

You can get a prompt for 2-Step Verification on iPhones. You'll need:

• An iPhone 5S and up
• The Google app or the Gmail app

If you already sign in with 2-Step Verification: Go to Step 3.

If you don't sign in with 2-Step Verification: Before you can start using prompts, turn on 2-Step Verification. You'll set up the prompt option in the next step.

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Gmail app . Tap Menu   Settings your account Manage your Google Account. If you don't use Gmail, go to myaccount.google.com.
2. At the top, tap Security.
3. Under "Signing in to Google," tap 2-Step Verification.
4. Under "Google prompt," select Add phone.
5. Follow the steps on the screen.
   • When adding a phone, choose a recommended device.
   • If your phone isn't listed, follow the steps on the screen.
6. On your iPhone, open the Google app or the Gmail app . On the prompt, tap Yes.
7. On the setup page, select Done.

Now, if you sign in to another compatible device, you’ll automatically receive sign-in prompts on that device until you sign out. You can turn off this feature to manage what devices get prompts.

Tip: You can skip prompts on devices you trust.

You can see prompts faster by tapping push notifications instead of opening the Google app or the Gmail app. When you sign in, tap the notification that appears on your screen to go to the prompt.

Set up push notifications

The first time you get a prompt on one of these apps, it will ask if you want to turn on push notifications. To turn them on, tap Turn on or follow the instructions below.

1. On your iPhone, open the Settings app.
2. Tap Notifications.
3. Choose the Google app  or the Gmail app .
4. Turn on Allow Notifications.

You can get prompts on multiple phones. When you sign in, all phones will get prompts, but you need to tap just one. The prompts on the other phones will go away.

Note: If you get prompts on multiple phones, make sure to use recommended devices.

To get prompts on an additional phone:

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Gmail app . Tap Menu   Settings your account Manage your Google Account. If you don't use Gmail, go to myaccount.google.com.
2. At the top, tap Security.
3. Under "Signing in to Google," tap 2-Step Verification.
4. Under "Google prompt," select Add phone.
   • If you don’t see Add phone: Follow the steps to manage what devices get sign-in prompts, then choose Add phone.
5. Follow the guided setup process.

Tip: To change which phone gets prompts, add a phone, then delete your old one.

Stop getting prompts on a certain phone

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Gmail app . Tap Menu   Settings your account Manage your Google Account. If you don't use Gmail, go to myaccount.google.com.
2. At the top, tap Security.
3. Under "Signing in to Google," tap 2-Step Verification.
4. Under "Google prompt," find the phone where you want to stop getting prompts.
5. Next to that phone, choose Delete .
   • If you don’t see Delete : Follow the steps to manage what devices get sign-in prompts, then choose Delete .

Stop using phone prompts

Under "Google prompt," delete all the phones where you get prompts. If you don’t see Delete : Follow the instructions to manage what devices get sign-in prompts, then choose Delete .

You can turn phone prompts back on at any time.

We recommend that you only set up or sign in on phones that you use regularly and always carry with you. Avoid setting up shared devices or old devices that you leave at home or at work.

Note: If you need to sign in on a phone that isn’t yours, do so from a private browsing window. Then, close all private browsing windows when you’re finished so you don’t stay signed in.

To add an extra level of security, turn on your phone's security feature.

iPhone: Turn on Touch ID

1. On your iPhone, open the Settings app.
2. Tap Touch ID & Passcode, then enter your passcode.
3. Under "Use Touch ID for," turn on iPhone Unlock. Then, follow the steps on the screen.

If you haven't tried to sign in but a prompt appears on your phone, someone might be trying to sign in without your permission.

1. On your iPhone, open the Google app or the Gmail app . You can also tap the notification.
2. On the prompt, tap No, it's not me.

If we notice something different about how you're signing in, you'll need to take an extra step or two to confirm it's really you. For instance, you might need to match a number between your computer screen and your phone screen.

If you're trying to sign in and don't get a prompt on your phone:

1. Try again. On the sign-in screen, select Resend.
2. Make sure your phone is connected to the Internet. You need Wi-Fi or cellular data turned on to get prompts.
3. Confirm that you're signed in to your Google Account. Follow these steps, then try signing in again.
   1. On your iPhone, open the Google app or the Gmail app .
   2. At the bottom of the screen, tap Sign in.
   3. Follow the steps on the screen.

If you're trying to sign in and your iPhone doesn't get a notification for the prompt:

1. Make sure you've turned on push notifications for Google.
2. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Gmail app . Tap Menu   Settings your account Manage your Google Account. If you don't use Gmail, go to myaccount.google.com.
3. At the top, tap Security.
4. Under "Signing in to Google," tap 2-Step Verification.
5. Under "Google prompt," delete your iPhone, then re-add it. 
6. Uninstall then reinstall the Google app or the Gmail app . When you open the app, it will ask if you want to turn on push notifications. Tap Turn on.

Sometimes, you might need to use a different verification step to sign in, including when:

• You don't have your phone with you
• Your phone is out of battery
• Your phone is offline

When things like this happen, try signing in by following these steps:

1. Sign in to your Google Account as you usually do.
2. Select Try another way to sign in.
3. Choose one of the options, and follow the steps on the screen.

Tip: After you sign in, go to your 2-Step Verification settings to add backup options.

If your phone is lost or stolen, follow these steps to make your account more secure:

1. Sign in to your account on another device.
2. Go to your Recently used devices.
3. Select the lost device.
4. Next to "Account access," choose Remove.
5. In the confirmation box that appears, select Remove.