Sign in with backup codes

If you lose your phone or otherwise can't get codes via text, voice call, or Google Authenticator, you can use backup codes to sign in. If you don't have your security key, you can also use these codes to sign in.

  • After you use a backup code to sign in, it becomes inactive.
  • You can generate a new set of 10 codes whenever you want. After creating a new set, the old set automatically becomes inactive.

Create & view a set of backup codes

  1. Go to your Google Account.
  2. On the left navigation panel, click Security.
  3. Under "Signing in to Google," click 2-Step Verification.
  4. Under "Backup codes," click Set up or Show codes. You can print or download your codes.

To find "Backup codes," 2-Step Verification must be turned on and the setup process completed. If “Use your phone to sign in” is turned on, you’ll need to turn it off to turn on 2-step verification.

If you think your backup codes were stolen or if you run out, select Get new codes. Your old set of backup codes will automatically become inactive.

Find your lost backup code

Search your computer for: "backup-codes-username.txt with your username. For example, if your username is google123, search for: Backup-codes-google123.txt. You'll need the codes downloaded to your computer for this to work.

Sign in with a backup code

  1. Locate your backup codes.
  2. Sign into Gmail or another Google service.
  3. Enter your username and password.
  4. When asked for your verification code, click More options.
  5. Select Enter one of your 8-digit backup codes.
  6. Enter your backup code.
Tip: As each code can be used only once, you might want to mark the code as used.
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