Printed backup codes are a useful insurance policy when travelling, especially if you travel with only a smartphone.įor many people, their Google account is central to their communications (think of how many password reset links you’ve sent to your Gmail) and this simple step ensures you’re able to recover from a lost or stolen phone when you travel. Your old set of backup codes will automatically become inactive. If you think your backup codes were stolen or if you run out, select Get new codes. If “Use your phone to sign in” is turned on, you’ll need to turn it off to turn on 2-step verification. To find “Backup codes,” 2-Step Verification must be turned on and the setup process completed. Under “Backup codes,” click Set up or Show codes.Under “Signing in to Google,” click 2-Step Verification.On the left navigation panel, click Security.If at first you don’t get the Security tab, swipe through all tabs until you find it. Generating your backup codes is a quick and easy process. On your Android device, go to your Google Account. Sign in, scroll down, select Show Codes > Download or Print. Where Do I Find My Google Printed Backup Codes? What to Know Print/Download Codes: In Google Account, choose Security > Show Codes. Printed backup codes are Google’s solution to this situation and each printout has 10 single use codes. It also comes in handy where your phone reception is unreliable and you have limited access to wifi. Learn how to recover your Google Authenticator codes in this thread. However, I only travel with a smartphone so if that was to be lost or stolen I would need an alternate way to access my accounts. Did you make a hard reset on your phone and forget to save your Google Authenticator codes Dont worry, you can still access your account by using backup codes, Google prompt, or transferring your codes to a new device. If you travel with multiple devices where you are already logged in to your key accounts, there is less need for you to print out backup codes for your Google account. Without the code, you will not be able to access your account even if you have the correct password. Typically, the code arrives as a text message to your phone.
This feature was pioneered by banks to protect against financial fraud but has since become so prevalent that even airline and hotel loyalty programs offer this additional protection. With fraudsters able to use malware or phish your password, this adds an extra layer of protection to your account and data. When you log in to your Google account for the first time, you are usually asked to provide a one-time code to verify that you really are who you say you are. Where Do I Find My Google Printed Backup Codes?.