How to Recover Your Gmail Account with a Phone Number

Having a way to recover your Gmail account is a must. With so many passwords you need to remember, there will come a time when you can’t remember your password and can’t get into your account. So, having a way to recover your Gmail account will come in handy.

How to Add a Phone Number to Get Back Your Gmail Account

It’s always better to be safe than sorry. So, you should add your phone number, so if you ever need to recover your Gmail account, you can. To get started, access the Gmail account you want to add the phone number to. Once you’re in, click on the cog-wheel and go to See all Settings.

When you’re in Settings, you’ll find four tabs: General, Labels, Inbox, and Accounts & Import. Click on Accounts & Import, followed by Change password recovery options.

When you click on recovery options, a new tab will open. Make sure you’re under the Security tab, and if you are, scroll all the way down to where it says Ways that we can verify that it’s you. Right below that, you’ll see the Recovery Phone option.

You’ll need to add the phone number that’ll turn into your recovery phone in the next window. Click on the Add Recovery Phone option and add your phone number. Make sure you choose the correct country.

To finish up the process, click on the Get Code option and enter the code you got on your phone and click on Verify. That’s all there is to it. The phone number you entered will now be your recovery phone number.

Add a Recovery Phone Number to Gmail Account in Android

The process to add a recovery phone number to your Gmail account is not too different if you do it from an Android device. Open the Gmail app and tap on the three-lined menu option, and go to Settings. Now, choose the account you want to add the phone number to and tap on Manage your Google account.

Just as if you were on your computer, you’ll need to choose the countries prefix and then add your phone number. You’ll get a code you’ll need to add, and you’re good to go.

How to Recover Your Gmail Account

Aren’t you glad you added your phone number, so you could easily get your Gmail Account back if this ever happened? Try to sign in to your account as you would normally. When you get to the part where you need to enter your password, click on Forgot Password?

Google will ask you to enter the last password you remember, but if you don’t want to give that a try, click on Try another way. In the next window, Google will tell you to check your phone and that you’ll need to verify it’s you. It’s just a message from Google asking if it’s you trying to recover the account. Tap on Yes, It’s Me.

In the next window, you’ll need to create your new password, and once you’re done with that, you’re good to go. You’ll be asked to use your phone instead of a password to sign in to your account from now on. This method is a lot easier and faster. Just because you choose to sign in with your phone, it doesn’t mean you can’t use your password in the future. It’s just another option.

Final Thoughts

There’s always going to be something you need to do, and that is the cause why you don’t have time to add a recovery method to your Gmail account. But, if a recovery method is not added, you could lose a lot more than the few minutes that it takes to add the recovery method. What other recovery methods have you added to your Gmail account?