The fastest way to get back into your account
To access your Google account, go to accounts.google.com in any web browser, enter the email address or phone number linked to your account, and follow the prompts to enter your password. If you remember both your email and password, you will be logged in within seconds. If you have forgotten either one, Google will walk you through recovery steps using a backup email address or phone number you set up earlier.
The process is the same whether you are using a computer, tablet, or phone. You do not need to read anything — a web browser is all you need. If you are trying to access Gmail, Google Drive, YouTube, or any other Google service, you can also click "Sign in" on that service's homepage, and it will take you to the same login page.
Key Takeaways
- Go to accounts.google.com and enter your email address or phone number, then your password to sign in.
- If you forget your password, Google can send a recovery code to a backup email or phone number you registered earlier.
- If you do not remember which email address you used, check old receipts, emails from Google, or devices where you were already signed in.
- Two-factor authentication adds a security step after you enter your password — you will need access to your phone or backup codes to sign in.
- Once you are signed in, you can change your password, add recovery methods, and adjust security settings from your account page.
What to do if you forgot your password
Click "Forgot password?" on the login page. Google will ask you to enter the last password you remember. If you cannot remember any password, select "Try another way" and Google will offer recovery options: sending a code to a backup email address, sending a code to a phone number you registered, or answering security questions you set up in the past.
The backup email or phone number must be one you added to your account yourself — Google cannot recover your account using information you never provided. If you did not set up a recovery email or phone number when you created your account, recovery becomes much harder. In that case, Google will ask you questions about your account history, such as when you created it or what devices you use to sign in.
Once you receive a recovery code, enter it on the page where you requested it. Google will then let you create a new password. Write down or save your new password somewhere safe before you close the page.
Finding your Google account email if you forgot it
If you cannot remember which email address you used to create your account, check any devices where you were already signed in. On a computer, open Gmail or Google Drive — the email address in the top right corner is your account email. On a phone, open Gmail or any Google app, tap your profile picture in the top right, and your email address appears at the top of the menu.
You can also check your personal email inbox for messages from Google. Search for "Google" or "noreply@google.com" — Google sends password reset confirmations, security alerts, and account notifications to your registered email. The "From" address in those emails is the one linked to your account.
If you have old receipts from Google Play Store purchases, YouTube Premium, or Google One subscriptions, they will show the email address on the account. You can also check your phone's settings: on Android, go to Settings > Accounts > Google, and your account email appears in the list. On iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud or Settings > Mail > Accounts — though this shows Apple accounts, not Google accounts.
Understanding two-factor authentication and recovery codes
Two-factor authentication is an extra security step that requires you to prove you own the account after you enter your password. When you sign in, Google sends a code to your phone or asks you to tap "Yes" on a device you have already signed in on. You must enter that code or tap "Yes" before you can access your account.
If two-factor authentication is turned on and you cannot receive codes on your phone, you can use backup codes instead. These are one-time passwords Google generates and stores in your account. You should write them down or save them in a safe place when you first turn on two-factor authentication. If you lose access to your phone and do not have backup codes, you will need to use the recovery process described above.
To turn two-factor authentication on or off, sign into your account, go to the Security tab on the left side, scroll down to "How you sign in to Google," and click "2-Step Verification." You can choose whether Google sends codes by text message, phone call, or through the Google Authenticator app.
Signing in on a new device
When you sign into your Google account on a device for the first time, Google may ask you to verify that it is really you. This is a security measure to prevent someone else from accessing your account. Google will send a notification to a device you have already signed in on, or send a code to your backup email or phone number. Tap "Yes" on the notification or enter the code on the new device, and you will be signed in.
After you verify the new device, Google will remember it and will not ask you to verify again the next time you sign in — unless you clear your browser's cookies or sign out. If you are signing in on a shared computer, such as at a library or school, do not check the box that says "Don't ask again on this device," because it will let anyone else on that computer access your account.
What to do if your account has been hacked
If you think someone else has accessed your account, go to myaccount.google.com/security and scroll down to "Your devices." You will see a list of devices and locations where your account has been signed in recently. If you see a device or location you do not recognize, click on it and select "Sign out" to remove access from that device.
Next, change your password when ready. Go to the Security tab, click "Password," and create a new one that is at least 12 characters long and includes numbers, uppercase letters, and symbols. Do not reuse a password you have used before. After you change your password, you will be signed out of all devices except the one you are currently using — you will need to sign in again on your other devices with your new password.
Check your recovery email and phone number to make sure they are still correct. If someone changed them, change them back. You can also review which apps and websites have permission to access your Google account by going to the Security tab and clicking "Third-party apps with account access." Remove any apps you do not recognize or no longer use.
Accessing your account from different devices and browsers
Your Google account is the same whether you access it from a computer, phone, tablet, or any web browser. You can sign in on as many devices as you want at the same time. If you sign in on a new device, your emails, files, photos, and settings will all be there — Google stores everything on its servers, not on the device itself.
If you want to stay signed in on a device, you can check the box that says "Stay signed in" when you log in. This means you will not have to enter your password the next time you visit Google services on that device. However, do not use this option on a shared computer, because it will let anyone else on that computer access your account without a password.
If you want to sign out, click your profile picture in the top right corner of any Google service and select "Sign out." You will be signed out only on that device and browser — you will still be signed in on your other devices. To sign out everywhere at once, go to myaccount.google.com, click "Security," scroll to "Your devices," and click "Sign out of all other sessions."
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I access my Google account without a password?
No, you need either your password or a recovery method to sign in. If you have set up two-factor authentication, you also need access to your phone or backup codes. If you have forgotten your password and do not have a backup email or phone number, you will need to answer security questions about your account history.
What if I cannot receive recovery codes on my phone?
If you set up backup codes when you turned on two-factor authentication, you can use one of those instead of a code sent to your phone. If you do not have backup codes, try the "Try another way" option on the recovery page — Google will offer other methods, such as sending a code to a backup email address or asking security questions.
How do I know if someone else is using my account?
Go to myaccount.google.com/security and scroll to "Your devices" to see where your account has been signed in recently. If you see locations or devices you do not recognize, click on them and sign out. You can also turn on two-factor authentication to make it harder for someone else to sign in, even if they know your password.
Can I have more than one Google account?
Yes, you can create as many Google accounts as you want. Each account has its own email address, password, and settings. You can sign into multiple accounts on the same device by clicking your profile picture and selecting "Add another account," or you can sign out of one and sign into another.
What should I do if I see a suspicious login attempt?
Google will send you a notification if your account is signed in from a new location or device. If you did not sign in from that location, click "This wasn't me" in the notification. Google will ask you to change your password and will sign you out of that device. You can also go to myaccount.google.com/security and manually sign out of any device you do not recognize.