Losing access to your Google Account can be devastating. Because a single account acts as the key to your Gmail, Google Photos, Google Drive, and Android device, getting locked out due to a forgotten password or a suspicious hacking attempt is a major crisis. The absolute best way to ensure you can always recover your account is by adding a secondary recovery email address.
How to Add a Recovery Email
A recovery email is an alternate email address that Google can use to contact you or send password reset codes if your primary account is compromised. This should be an email address that you own and have secure access to (like an Outlook, Yahoo, or alternate Gmail address), or the email address of a highly trusted family member.
- Open a web browser on your computer or mobile device and navigate to myaccount.google.com.
- Sign in to the Google Account you want to secure.
- In the left-hand navigation menu (or at the top on mobile devices), click or tap on Security.
- Scroll down the page until you find the section labeled “How you sign in to Google.”
- Click on Recovery email. You will likely be prompted to enter your current Google Account password again to verify your identity.
- In the text box provided, type the alternate email address you want to use for account recovery.
- Click the Verify button.
- Google will immediately send a 6-digit verification code to the alternate email address you just entered. Keep the current tab open, open a new tab to check that alternate email inbox, and retrieve the code.
- Type the 6-digit code into the prompt on your Google Account page and click Verify.
Once verified, this alternate email address will be permanently linked to your Google Account for security purposes. If you ever forget your password, you can click “Forgot password?” on the login screen, and Google will send a reset link directly to this recovery address.