How to turn on 2-Step Verification for your Google account

What you need

• A personal Google account that you can sign in to.
• A few minutes to read the on-screen prompts as you go.
• A check that your account is not a work, school or group account. These may not allow the steps in this guide (see Tips and common mistakes).

Two-Step Verification adds a second check when you sign in, so a stolen password alone is not enough to get into your account. It is one of the account protection tools Google lists for keeping your sign-in safe.

Step by step

1. Open your Google Account. Go to your Google Account page, where your profile and account settings are kept. Make sure you are signed in to the account you want to protect.

2. In the navigation panel, select Security. The Security section is where Google groups the settings that control how you sign in and how your account is protected.

3. Under “How you sign in to Google,” select Turn on 2-Step Verification. This is the option that starts the setup. Read the heading carefully so you choose the right setting.

4. Follow the on-screen steps. Google will guide you through the rest of the setup. Work through each prompt in order and do not close the page until you see that the setting is on.

Example (for illustration only): Priya is a beginner who wants to plan a holiday and write emails to a travel company using her own Google account. Before she starts, she opens her Google Account, goes to Security and turns on 2-Step Verification. That way, her account is better protected while she uses it for her planning and correspondence.

Tips and common mistakes

• Work or school accounts can be different. If you use an account through your job, school or another group, these steps might not work. If you cannot set up 2-Step Verification, contact your administrator for help.
• Look for the right heading. The setting sits under “How you sign in to Google.” If you cannot see it, check that you are in the Security section of your Google Account, not another page.
• Protecting Gemini too. Gemini is tied to your Google account, so turning on 2-Step Verification for Google also covers Gemini.
• Do not stop halfway. If you leave the setup before the on-screen steps are finished, the setting may not be fully on. Return to the Security section and check the status.
• Other tools exist. Google’s account safety guidance also mentions passkeys, Recovery Contacts and Password Manager. This guide does not explain how to set those up, but you may want to read about them later.

Use it responsibly

• Keep your sign-in details private. Never share your password or verification codes with anyone, and never paste them into an AI tool, a chat or an email.
• Check answers against the official source. If you ask an AI tool for help with these settings, compare its steps with the Google Help pages before you act on them. AI answers can be wrong or out of date.
• Protect your account over time. Two-Step Verification helps, but keep your device locked and review your Security section from time to time.
• Follow the rules that apply to you. If your account belongs to a workplace or school, follow its policies and ask its administrator before changing security settings. Also follow Google’s own terms for using its services.