You can turn off two-step verification in Gmail through your account settings, but you'll lose an important security layer
Two-step verification adds a second password — usually a code from your phone — when you sign in. Turning it off means Gmail will only ask for your regular password, which makes your account faster to access but also easier for someone else to break into if they learn that password.
If you're turning it off because you lost access to the phone that generates your codes, there's a better path: keep two-step on and add a backup phone number or recovery email instead. But if you've decided you want to remove it entirely, the steps are straightforward and take about two minutes.
Key Takeaways
- You turn off two-step verification in your Google Account settings under "Security", not in Gmail itself.
- You must be signed into your Gmail account and have access to a recovery phone number or email to make this change.
- Once you turn it off, you can sign in with only your password — no second code will be required.
- If you lost your phone, adding a backup phone number keeps two-step on and is safer than removing it completely.
How to turn off two-step verification
Start by going to myaccount.google.com in your browser while signed into Gmail. On the left side, click Security. You'll see a section labeled How you sign in to Google — look for the line that says 2-Step Verification.
Click on 2-Step Verification. Google will ask you to confirm your identity by sending a code to your recovery phone or email. Enter that code when prompted. Once you're verified, you'll see a button that says Turn off — click it. Google will ask you to confirm once more. Click Turn off again, and two-step verification is now disabled.
The next time you sign into Gmail from a new device, you'll only need your password. No code will appear.
What happens after you turn it off
Your account becomes easier to access but also more vulnerable. If someone learns your Gmail password — through a data breach, phishing email, or by guessing — they can sign in without needing a second factor. They won't need your phone or any code.
Gmail will no longer show you a list of backup codes or recovery options on your Security page. If you change your mind later, you can turn two-step back on using the same Security settings page.
If you lost your phone but want to keep two-step on
This is the situation where most people get stuck. You have two-step enabled, but the phone that generates your codes is gone, lost, or broken. Turning off two-step entirely is one solution, but a safer option is to add a backup phone number or use your recovery email instead.
Go to myaccount.google.com and click Security. Under How you sign in to Google, click 2-Step Verification. You'll see a section called Backup options — click Add backup phone or Use recovery email. Google will send a code to your existing recovery email or phone number to verify you. Once you confirm that code, your new backup method is active.
Now when you sign in, you can choose to receive your code by text to the new phone number, or Google can send it to your recovery email instead. You keep the security of two-step without being locked to a single device.
If you're locked out and can't access your recovery phone or email
If you can't receive the verification code that Google is asking for, you have a few options. On the sign-in screen where Google asks for your code, look for the text Can't access your phone? or Try another way to sign in. Click it.
Google will offer alternatives: signing in with a backup code (if you saved one when you first set up two-step), using a recovery email address, or answering security questions you set up earlier. If none of those work, you can start Google's account recovery process, which takes longer but doesn't require you to turn off two-step — it just gets you back into your account.
Why you might want to keep two-step on instead
Two-step verification stops most account takeovers because a thief needs both your password and access to your phone or email. Removing it means your account depends entirely on keeping your password secret — which is much harder than it sounds, especially if you've used the same password on other websites that have been hacked.
If your reason for turning it off is inconvenience — you're tired of entering codes — consider that you only need the code when you sign in on a new device. Once you're signed in on your phone or computer, you stay signed in. The code is a one-time friction, not an ongoing one.
Turning two-step back on later
If you turn off two-step and later decide you want it back, the process is the same. Go to myaccount.google.com, click Security, find 2-Step Verification, and click Turn on. Google will walk you through setting it up again — you'll choose whether to use an authenticator app, text messages, or phone calls for your codes.
You can change your mind as many times as you need. There's no penalty for turning it on and off, and no limit to how many times you can do it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off two-step verification delete my backup codes?
Yes. When you disable two-step verification, Google removes your backup codes from your account. If you turn two-step back on later, you'll get a new set of backup codes. If you want to keep your current codes, take a screenshot or write them down before you turn off two-step.
Can I turn off two-step verification without a recovery phone or email?
No. Google requires you to verify your identity before making security changes, and it does that by sending a code to your recovery phone or email. If you don't have access to either, you'll need to use Google's account recovery process, which takes longer and may ask you security questions instead.
What if I turned off two-step but now someone is signing into my account?
Turn two-step back on when ready by going to myaccount.google.com > Security > 2-Step Verification > Turn on. Then go to Security > Your devices and sign out of any sessions you don't recognize. Change your Gmail password to something new that you haven't used anywhere else.
Does turning off two-step affect my other Google services like Drive or YouTube?
No. Two-step verification is tied to your Google Account, so turning it off affects all Google services at once. But it only controls the second verification step — your regular password still protects everything.