How To Enable Two Step Verification On Android

Our mobile devices with the Android operating system are related to the Google account we have, that is why we need to protect it so that strangers do not enter it when we lose our phone or directly when they can crack our passwords.

While it is true that to enter our device we can do it through the identification of a fingerprint, a face unlock or a screen unlock through keys, It will always be necessary to protect our Google account separately. Next, we will talk about the methods that exist to perform a double confirmation to enter our Google account, activating through our Android phone.

Why enable two-factor verification on Android devices? Benefits

As the interaction with our mobile device grows we store in the same valuable information that serves us, not only for our personal life but also for our work or study.

According to this, it is necessary to protect that information from intruders or hackers. This usually happens when we lose our phone or directly when they intercept our private accounts.

For this reason, it is necessary to create a security system in which through two parameters we increase our level of privacy. One of those parameters is going to be our key and the other we can choose between different starting methods. When we establish the start in two steps we get the following benefits:

1. If we lose our phone we can get a backup copy of it, so that the most valuable information we have will be protected and we will be able to access it again.

2. By increasing our level of security we are forcing the hacker that, in addition to deciphering our password, have our mobile device in your hands.

3. When we enter from other teams to our accounts, the applications will ask us to enter the password, so we will have precise control of access to our private accounts.

4. Another issue in which we have control of the situation is when We do not deliver our mobile device to any person. That is, whenever our phone is with us it will be very difficult to access our accounts.

5. If we forget the access password, we can easily retrieve it according to the method we have chosen for this purpose.

What login methods with double confirmation can you Activate on your Android phone?

There are different methods that we can use or choose to start our session as double confirmation. We detail each of them below:

Google messages

When we verify that our phone is compatible, we can activate the Google messages option with which we will receive, each time we enter a different device, a message alerting us to the start of that session. It gives us the ability to lock that device and change the account password. In extreme cases it also allows us to block our Google account.

Security key

This mechanism works on our Android device to protect those applications or information that we consider important. To access it we will have to write a code or a message. We simply have to connect the security key to our computer through different channels, such as Bluetooth.

Receiving codes by call or text message

It is the most chosen by users, with this system we will receive every time we need to verify access as a second parameter, a six-digit code that will reach us through an SMS or a call according to the configuration we use.

Security codes

Yes, we cannot receive the codes from the previous point or through the Google Authenticator tool, we can use security codes that will become inactive as we use it. We can choose a set of 10 codes. When we start using this group it will be inactive when we start using the next one. The recommendation we make is that these codes have to be stored in safe places and different from our devices.

Google Authenticator application

With this tool, Google offers us the possibility of configuring an alternative step for two-step verification. All we need is to have a relatively new Android and have the two-step verification option enabled.

Alternative telephone

This second parameter of increase of security layer refers to the registration of a telephone number that is not ours, to which we will receive a text message in which it will alert us of the login. It is also useful for when we have problems accessing the session, where Google will send us a six-digit code also via SMS.

Steps to enable two-step authentication on your Android

The steps that we will name next are the necessary ones to be able to activate the authentication in our Android device:

• We’re going to the “Setting” Of the device.
• We choose the option “Google account”.
• We select “Security”.
• We’re going to “How to access Google.”
• We select “Verification in two steps.”
• We click on “Start”.
• We select “Choose another option.”

When we have to choose another option we will look for the following alternatives that we detail below:

Google messages

We will follow these steps:

• We enter the Google account.
• We choose “Security”.
• We look for the option “Access to Google.”
• We click on “Verification in two steps.”
• We select “Add Google Message.”
• We choose the “Recommended device.”
• We select “Yes”.
• We press “Ready”.

Security key

We verify that our device can add this tool, for it, we perform the steps of the Google Message point. When we have completed all the configuration steps, it will appear “Login with code or message” In this case, our device does not support the key. Once we know that our device is compatible we can do it through Bluetooth. To configure this tool as a second step to increase the security layer, we will perform these steps:

• We activate Bluetooth.
• We connect the keys to the computer.
• We choose “Add the keys to the account.”
• We pair our device.

Another way to get this security key tool is through near field communication or NFC

• We open the Google application on our mobile device.
• We start the session.
• The device will immediately detect that there is an existing key.

Through the USB port connection, we will have to follow this guide:

• We initiate Google actions.
• We connect the keys to a cable with the USB port.
• When the message from Google Play Services appears.
• We choose “To accept”.

Security codes

To use this tool we will follow the following steps:

• We enter the Google account.
• We start the session.
• We choose our device in the list.
• We select “Try now.”
• We click on “To accept”.

Backup code

We can configure this way:

• We go and select “Setting”.
• We choose “Google”.
• Click on “Google account”.
• We select the option “Security”.
• Two-step verification.
• We look for the option “Backup codes.”
• We select “Set up”, on some devices figure “Show codes.”

Google Authenticator

We can use this Google app with which we will use it as a second parameter to increase our security layer. To do this, we have to install the application and follow the configuration steps.

Alternative telephone

When we need to use this type of parameter we will perform the following guide:

• We enter the Google service.
• We start the session.
• We click on “Try to access differently.”
• We select “Get verification code.”

How to access my account if I cannot use double verification?

When we can’t access Google We begin to lose the benefits of all in the tools associated with Google, from YouTube to our email. That is why it is necessary to have permanent access to our account in order to take full advantage of the benefits offered by this platform. When we cannot enter Our Google account has methods that will allow us to recover access to it, thanks to which they will be able to communicate with us when if any activity that can be suspicious is detected or also when we cannot enter. The Three methods that exist to enter are:

• Verification Phone
• Alternative mail that allows us to perform this recovery.
• Security questions.

There is another alternative when we have directly forgotten our email or password. In order to recover this data, we will perform these steps:

• Option “Have you forgotten your email?”: With this link once we are at the Google login, we click on it, in which we will have to enter a phone number or email address that we use for recovery.
• Alternative “Have you forgotten your password?”: When we are in the login panel we click on the option we mentioned and choose to Try differently. Google SMS message to enter the code and to recover the password.
• Enter Google Account Help.