How to unlock Google account

Applying additional security measures to protect your Google account is always a good practice; however, precisely because of these precautions, it can happen to remain closed out of the same without being able to log in. This happens, for example, when you try to access one of the services offered by Google via an unknown browser, from an app that has never been used before or from an unusual IP address.

How do you say? Is this exactly what happened to you? Then I have good news for you! This is by no means an unsolvable problem, but it is the direct consequence of what is called two-step verification : in fact, the latter is an additional layer of protection on your Google account to protect it from suspicious login attempts. So if you want to know how to unlock Google account to bring things back to normal, do not worry, in the course of the lines to come it will be my care to guide you to the resolution of this small and solvable unexpected event.

Specifically, I will explain how to check if two-step verification is active on your account, I will teach you to authorize a new device and, if you deem it necessary, also to deactivate this additional protection measure. Also, I’ll give you some tips for unlocking your Google account in other situations. Don’t worry, these are really simple procedures and within everyone’s reach. Having said that, I just have to wish you good reading and good work!

Index

• How to unlock Google account
  • What is Two-Step Verification
  • Check the activation of 2-Step Verification
  • Authorize a new device
• How to unlock Google account in case of forgotten password
• How to unblock underage Google accounts
• How to unblock Google account on pause

How to unlock Google account

If you want to know how to unlock your Google account through two-step verification, in the next chapters I’ll first explain what this Google feature is, as well as show you how to activate it and authorize a device.

What is Two-Step Verification

Before understanding in practice how to unlock Google accounts , it is good to give you some more information on what is the two-step verification .

As I already mentioned in the opening bars of this tutorial, it is an important protection tool designed to protect the integrity of the Google account: in other words, this system allows you to protect the profile in question even if it is the access password was stolen, using an access protocol designed to protect all the contents connected to the account itself (photos, contacts, emails and so on).

This is why, after activating the two-step verification, access to Google services from browsers or devices not previously authorized changes drastically: to complete the login, in fact, you must provide an additional code received via phone call , SMS or generated by an authentication app , such as Google Authenticator (a code generator made available directly by “Big G”, which I also told you about in a dedicated tutorial ), grant an access permission via another device or insert a token of safety to the USB port on your computer.

If you do not verify your identity through one of the methods listed above, access to your Google account is blocked and you cannot use any of the services offered by the Mountain View giant.

This additional level of security, however, can be “lightened” in case of need: if you often log in from a particular browser and / or a specific device, for example, it is possible to make Google “remember” it. (by placing the check mark in the box proposed at login), so that the next time only the classic password is requested. I’ll tell you about this option later in the tutorial.

Check the activation of 2-Step Verification

Now that you understand the effectiveness and importance of Google 2-Step Verification, all you have to do is check if it is active for your account and decide what to do next.

First, therefore, connected from the browser you usually use (from PC or mobile device) to access Google services on the dedicated Internet page , click on the Start button at the top right and then press the Start button again .

Once this is done, log in with your Google account by entering the password associated with it, to reach the next screen. If 2-Step Verification is enabled in your profile (which is very likely, if you have been “locked out”), you will see in the top area the words Two-Step Verification is ACTIVE followed by the first activation date of the itself.

Now you can decide whether to disable this feature (which I do not recommend to avoid making your account less secure), by pressing the Deactivate button twice in a row. Obviously this way you would be able to immediately access your account with just your email address and password.

What I suggest you do instead is change or add new methods in two-step verification. To do this, in the screen that is shown to you, scroll through the different items by acting on one of the options in the list.

• Google message – the list of devices (Android or iOS / iPadOS) is shown, among those associated with the account, to be used to confirm one’s identity through a specific message on the display of the same. This method can be updated only and only by associating the Google account with a new device , so that it automatically appears in the list.
• Text or voice message – this method allows you to receive an additional unlock code upon receiving an SMS or a voice call. Using the Add phone button you can enter a new mobile number.
• Backup Codes – this is a list of codes to be used if access is not possible in any other way. Each code can be used only once and 10 codes are available.
• Authenticator app – this option allows you to generate a passcode using Google Authenticator or another similar app.
• Security Token – this section allows you to configure a small USB device to be inserted into the appropriate port of the computer to finalize access to the account.

If you wish, you can configure one or more additional authentication methods, choosing from those proposed: in this way, for example, if you are unable to unlock your account via the Google message (perhaps because you have changed phone), you will have the possibility to receive an SMS directly to your number and use the code received.

Authorize a new device

If you have read this far, it means that you have fully understood the importance of two-step verification and that you have decided to leave it active, setting all the additional security measures that are right for you.

Well happy with the decision you made, it’s time for me to explain step by step how to authorize and unblock Google accounts on your PC : don’t worry, it’s a very simple operation that can be completed in a matter of seconds. I warn you that if you want to know how to unlock Google accounts on Android or iPhone , the procedures I am about to indicate are the same as those on a computer.

First of all, from the browser of the new device you intend to authorize, go to the page of the Google service you intend to use (eg Gmail or Google Drive ), press the Login button , then type the email address associated with the account , press the Next button , finally type the password and press the Next button again .

At this point, you will be blocked by one of the verification tools you activated previously: to authorize a new device and subsequently make it possible to access Google by typing only the password, put the check mark next to the item Do not ask more on this device and follow the instructions provided on the screen to unlock (for example by pressing Yes on the device enabled for the Google message).

If you do not have the verification tool indicated by default, press the item Try another method and choose the security option that you can use at that time, among those I have reported to you in the previous paragraphs.

How to unlock Google account in case of forgotten password

If you’ve made it this far, it means you’ve mastered everything about Google 2-Step Verification. However, you have not yet been able to solve your problem, as you have forgotten or lost the password to access your Google account: do not throw in the towel yet, with a little effort you can recover it in a few minutes.

First of all, access this web page using the browser of your choice (bearing in mind that the instructions I am about to give you are valid both from computers and from smartphones and tablets); once on the page in question, type in the Gmail address and press the Next button .

At this point, enter the last password you remember in the appropriate text field and press the Next button . If no password comes to mind, press the item Try another method , answer one of the following questions (or complete the proposed action) and press the Next button again .

At this juncture, you may be asked to answer your secret question , to indicate the recovery mail address , to specify the date of creation of the account and so on: however, you can go to the next recognition method by pressing each time on entry Try another method .

Please note that if you have activated 2-Step Verification on your account in advance, you will be offered to unlock the account using one of the additional verification methods set up earlier. Again, you can go to the next option by pressing on the item Try another method .

If you are able to follow the instructions correctly, you will be shown a new page through which you can reset your password: at this point, all you have to do is fill in the fields on the screen with the new password and then press the confirmation button. .

If you need more information about the Google password recovery procedure or if you have also forgotten the email address used for access, you can refer to my specific tutorial on how to recover Google account , in which I explained to you even more in detail. what to do.

If, on the other hand, you need more information on how to unlock a Google account on your Android smartphone or tablet , consult the specific guide I have dedicated to this procedure.

How to unblock underage Google accounts

If you have created a Gmail account for a minor through Google’s Family Link service , which I told you about in this tutorial , you should know that it is possible to unblock your child’s Google account only and only if they are already 14 years old . This is in fact the minimum age required for a user to independently manage their Google account.

Unfortunately, it is not possible in any way to unlock the restrictions on an account of a minor before the age of 14 (the date of birth that has been set to the minor in Family Link is considered for Google to evaluate the age requirement).

Therefore, at the age of 14 of the minor, Google will send an email containing a link that refers to this section , through which, by logging in and following the simple steps on the screen, it is possible to make the Google account of the minor independent of the family group.

How to unblock Google account on pause

A Google account cannot be temporarily paused. Consequently, therefore, you cannot proceed to unblock a situation that cannot occur.