To help protect your account, you may need to prove it’s you when you sign in or try to complete sensitive actions like:
- View activity saved in your Google Account.
- Change your password.
- View saved passwords.
- Turn on 2-Step Verification.
- Download your data.
For YouTube channel owners, you may be asked to verify it’s you when you perform certain actions within YouTube Studio.
Use your phone or security key
To prove it’s you, have a phone or security key available that's been registered to your account for at least 7 days. You can use:
- The phone with the recovery phone number for your account.
- A phone that's signed in to your Google Account. Learn how to sign in on your phone.
- A security key that’s been added to your Google Account. This option is only available if you’ve turned on 2-Step Verification.
If you’re asked to verify it’s you, follow the steps below. Have your phone nearby, and if possible, make sure it's connected to the internet.
- On the "Verify it's you" screen, complete the task or select More ways to verify. You'll have some or all of these options:
- Get a prompt sent to your phone.
- Get a verification code by text.
- Get a security code on your Android device.
- Use your screen lock or fingerprint on your Android device.
- Use a security key that’s been added to your Google Account.
- Follow the on-screen instructions and use your phone when prompted.
Why you might get this step
This extra step helps protect your account. If someone finds out your username and password, this step helps stop them from taking certain sensitive actions in your account.
Learn how to make your account more secure.
Fix problems
Can't complete a sensitive action
Your Android device is offline
If your Android phone isn't connected to the internet, you can still use it to verify it’s you.
- On the Google sign-in page, enter your username and password.
- If you get the "Verify it's you" screen, tap More ways to verify
Get a security code on your Android phone.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
Get a security code on your Android phone.Your phone isn't available
If you can't use your phone or try again from another device you use often, follow these steps.
If you don't get a prompt within a few minutes:
- Make sure your phone is connected to the internet. To get prompts, you need Wi-Fi or mobile data turned on.
- Confirm that you're signed in to your account on your phone.
- Go to the sign-in screen and tap Resend.
If you don't get a text within a few minutes:
- Make sure the phone number you have is right.
- Make sure you have a strong network signal or that the phone is connected to Wi-Fi.
- Go to the sign-in screen and select Resend.
- If you still don't get a text, select More ways to verify
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
To protect your account, you may be blocked from some sensitive actions when at least one of the following items hasn’t been associated with your Google Account for at least 7 days:
- Phone
- Phone number
- Security key
If you don’t get the option to verify it’s you, you can:
- Stay signed in to your Google Account on your Android phone for at least 7 days. Then, try again. Learn how to add your account on Android.
- Add a recovery phone number to your Google Account and wait at least 7 days. Then, try again. Learn more about recovery phone numbers.
- Add a security key to your Google Account if you turned on 2-Step Verification and wait at least 7 days. Then, try again. Learn how to set up a security key.