Locked out of your Google account? You can now ask friends to help recover it, here’s how

Losing access to your Google account can be stressful. Whether you’ve forgotten your password or misplaced the device that holds your passkey, getting back in can sometimes feel tricky. Well, Google helps you recover your account with options like receiving a one-time code via SMS. But what if you’ve lost your phone or haven’t updated your recovery phone number? That’s where a new feature called Recovery Contacts comes in.

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Google has announced Recovery Contacts, a way to choose trusted friends or family members who can help you regain access to your account. This option provides a simple, safe way to turn to someone you trust if other recovery methods aren’t available.

Setting up a recovery contact is easy. You can go to g.co/recovery-contacts to add a trusted friend or family member. If you ever get locked out, you’ll share a special code with your recovery contact. They will receive an email or notification and can confirm it’s really you by verifying the code. Your recovery contact cannot see your account or any personal information.

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“Because your Google Account is central to your experience across Google, from storing personal information to personalising your services, we want to make sure you can always access it, even when you don’t have your usual device or password,” the tech giant stated. Google has been working on password-free solutions, such as passkeys, and Recovery Contacts adds another layer of support for times when you can’t use your usual recovery methods.

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It’s important to note that the new Recovery Contacts feature is currently rolling out. So, if you’ve not received it yet, just wait a little while.

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Ayushi Jain

Ayushi works as Chief Copy Editor at Digit, covering everything from breaking tech news to in-depth smartphone reviews. Prior to Digit, she was part of the editorial team at IANS. View Full Profile