How to Add Two Factor Authentication to Your Google Account

[@askleonotenboom]

✅ Watch next ▶ What’s the Best Two-Factor App? ▶ kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4XVoIKdn7RlaZY

[@knutblaise9437]

For QR code backups, I like to use an old digital camera with no Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity options. With the camera, I take a picture of both the QR code and the alphanumeric code. With this approach, there is no opportunity for a keylogger to capture the copy-paste operation or malware to search for a screenshot of the QR code and the alphanumeric code. For recovery, I can point my new phone at the camera display to recreate the 2FA account. If you want to go nuts, you can install Puppy Linux on an early 2000s computer with no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth for backing up the camera's SD card and run Puppy Linux from a flash drive. I also use an old phone with Aegis to make a backup of the QR codes. This phone has no SIM, data plan, or Wi-Fi account. All radios are disabled (WIFI, DATA, Bluetooth), and the phone is only turned on to add new 2FA account info or restore 2FA accounts on a new phone.

[@adrianoguedes7970]

Thank you so much, Mr. Leo. I really appreciate your tutorials over the years. Please keep up with your excellent work. God Bless you.

[@ericpierce3660]

Leo doing God's work as always.

[@Canadadownhill]

Hi Leo. Thanks again for your expertise. Here's something I need clarified: my Google accounts have recently, when signing in, asked for 2FA and stated they were sending me a six-digit code to input into the field (on computer), but the codes don't arrive on the phone. I ask it to re-send a code, and same thing...no codes. Any ideas why? If I used an alternative 2FA (eg., pre-set codes) the last time, is it relying on that (even though it says it will send me a six-digit code) as if I changed the method the last time? Do I have to go back into the account (ironic, cuz I can't get in without the coding) and somewhere/how re-set the primary 2FA choice? When we went to Hawaii last year (from Canada), our phones did not work on the US network. So we got a temp SIM card for them, which changed (of course) the phone number then and we were screwed at getting into Gmail because the codes were being sent to the "other" (normal) phone number which of course, we could not receive as that number did not work in the USA. To me, that's one of the issues with 2FA -- very frustrating. Thanks.😉

[@askleonotenboom]

Don't really have a good answer. Are you certain the phone number in your Google account is the same as that of your current phone? That's the #1 reason this fails.

[@Kim-nn2eu]

@@askleonotenboom Yes, absolutely certain of that. Something has changed with Google/KZbin.

[@BoulderBigJim]

do I need to use goggle's browser, Chrome, for the autheaicator to work. will it work with Apple's Safari browser?

[@askleonotenboom]

Authenticator is independent of browser.

[@Zendukai]

Leo, can you do a video how to recover your google account with a new phone, and not using a PC to help. Just say you lost your phone, but, you have your google password only. How do you recover the authenticator code's. Thank you.

[@Zendukai]

@CryingCroc. I'm curious if it was possible, that's all. If I travelled to another country and the phone was stolen with all my stuff saved. How would I go trying to set up a temporary mobile in another country?

[@fetr9666]

@@CryingCroc. Sorry about your this parte of your statement for google account 2FA set up then you CANNOT access your Google account/Gmail with just your password isn't true. I can bypass without Google Authencation. There are more options.

[@askleonotenboom]

I strongly recommend using a computer, not a phone, for account recovery. When you set up two-factor you were instructed to save some recovery codes. You may also have an alternate email address configured. Bottom line is that you go through the Google account recovery process (think "forgot my password" even though you know it, or "don't have my authenticator" or "try another way". Follow the instructions. That's the only approach I'm aware of if you haven't backed up the QR code originally used to set up your 2FA.

[@fetr9666]

👍

[@Zendukai]

@@askleonotenboom Can you do a demo of what you would do if you were stuck without a PC, what would be your process. I sure plenty of travellers have suffered this problem, if you can't solve this, then maybe what else should you carry to help recover your account onto a new mobile in another country, I'm thinking of travelling, but I want to arm myself with info on how to recover from being mugged, pickpocketed yadda yadda. Thanks Leo :)

[@ICANanimations]

can you even use a google authenticator on the same phone as the google account is required for?

[@askleonotenboom]

Yes.

[@Sussy-Baka776]

God people don't know how to setup 2fa using google authenticator ? i use authy by the way instead of google authenticator

[@fetr9666]

I use both.