What to Know
- Print/Download Codes: In Google Account, choose Security > Show Codes. Sign in, scroll down, select Show Codes > Download or Print.
- Sign in with backup codes: On 2-Step Verification screen, choose Try another way > Enter one of your 8-digit backup codes. Enter codes.
When you secure your Google account with two-factor authentication (2FA), you'll enter a code to complete the sign-in. You can get this code from a text message, a voice call, the Google Authenticator app, or a security key.
There may be times when you don’t have your phone or a security key with you. For these situations, you can print a list of Google backup codes and keep it in a safe place only you know about, and then sign in with your backup codes. We show you how to do so using any device.
How to Print or Download Google Backup Codes
After setting up your Google account with 2FA, print or download a set of backup codes.
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Sign in to your Google account and select Security.
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Under Signing in to Google, choose 2-Step Verification.
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Sign in and choose Next.
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Scroll down to the Backup codes section and select Show Codes.
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Select Download to save a text file containing the codes, or select Print to print the codes.
If you download the backup codes from your Google account, save them somewhere safe. Also, change the default name to something less obvious than the default backup-codes file name.
If your backup codes are lost or you've used all the codes, select Get New Codes. You'll have a new list of codes to work with and the old set of backup codes will become inactive.
How to Sign In With Backup Codes
When you need to use a backup code to sign in to your Google account, find your list and follow these steps:
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Sign in to any Google service, be it Gmail, Google Drive, YouTube, or another Google service.
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When the 2-Step Verification screen appears, scroll down and select Try another way.
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Select Enter one of your 8-digit backup codes.
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Enter a backup code, then select Next to log in.
When you use a code, it cannot be used again. Be sure to cross it off your list.