by Jayson DeMers | 30 comments
If you’re getting tired of spending an extra minute or so every time you need to log into Gmail, you may wonder whether you can turn off 2-step verification in Gmail.
Yes, you can!
Read on and I’ll show you how to turn off 2-step verification in Gmail.
Table of Contents
- Why Use 2-Step Verification in Gmail?
- How to Turn Off Gmail 2-Step Verification (Desktop)
- How to Turn Off 2-Step Verification in Gmail (Android Devices)
- How to Turn Off 2-Step Verification in Gmail on Apple (iOS) Devices (iPhone and iPad)
- After Disabling 2-Step Verification in Gmail
- Related posts:
Why Use 2-Step Verification in Gmail?
Before you turn off 2-factor verification in Gmail, consider why you enabled it in the first place. Basically, the easier it is to get into your account, the easier it is for other people to get into your account.
When you create a new account in Gmail, Google will recommend that you turn on 2-step verification. When enabled, you’ll need to provide a secondary piece of information that additionally verifies your identify; if you’ve provided a phone number, Google will send a 6-digit verification code to that phone number that you can enter for account access.
Without 2-factor authentication, hackers are just one guessed password away from getting access to your account.
With 2-factor authentication enabled, you’ll instantly multiply the complexity of any malicious attempt to gain access to your account.
That said, if you’ve chosen a strong enough password, you change your password regularly, you only use trusted devices, and you keep your network secure, you’ll have most of the elements in place to keep your account safe.
At that point, Gmail’s 2-step verification system may be too much of a hassle to justify.
So how do you turn off 2-step verification in Gmail?
There are three main approaches, depending on what device you’re using.
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How to Turn Off Gmail 2-Step Verification (Desktop)
1. If you’re using a computer, you’ll first need to open the page for your Google Account.
2. Head to the Security section, then select 2-Step Verification. Here, you may be prompted to sign into your account.
3. Select Turn off, and you’ll be prompted to verify your choice.
How to Turn Off 2-Step Verification in Gmail (Android Devices)
- First, open your device’s Settings app, then head to Google, then Google Account. There, tap Security.
- You’ll find a section labeled “2-Step Verification,” which may prompt you to sign into your Google account. There’s a button there to “Turn off,” and you’ll need to confirm your choice after tapping it.
- When you’re done, destroy any and all backup codes you’ve saved for signing into your account.
How to Turn Off 2-Step Verification in Gmail on Apple (iOS) Devices (iPhone and iPad)
If you’re using an Apple iOS device like an iPhone or iPad, you’ll need to use the Gmail app to turn off 2-Step Verification.
- Tap the menu icon, then head to Settings, then “your account,” then Manage Google Account. Note that if you don’t have a Gmail account yet, you can head to this link on your device’s web browser instead.
- At the top of the page, you can tap Security, then head to the Signing in to Google section to tap 2-Step Verification. There, you may be prompted to sign in.
- You can tap Turn off; when you do, you’ll see a pop-up window asking you to confirm your choice.
- Be sure to delete any backup codes you’ve used to sign into your account in the past.
After Disabling 2-Step Verification in Gmail
After you’ve disabled 2-step verification in Gmail, you may experience some issues with third-party apps that have been linked with your Google account. In some cases, you can resolve the problem by re-logging in with your password. In others, you can revoke app passwords and reset your credentials.
If you’re interested in maximizing your productivity when using Gmail, you can off 2-step verification in Gmail, which is a good start, but it’s just the first step. What’s next?
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Jayson is a long-time columnist for Forbes, Entrepreneur, BusinessInsider, Inc.com, and various other major media publications, where he has authored over 1,000 articles since 2012, covering technology, marketing, and entrepreneurship. He keynoted the 2013 MarketingProfs University, and won the “Entrepreneur Blogger of the Year” award in 2015 from the Oxford Center for Entrepreneurs. In 2010, he founded a marketing agency that appeared on the Inc. 5000 before selling it in January of 2019, and he is now the CEO of EmailAnalytics.
G venkatakumaron 07/16/2021 at 7:32 am
Thank you. I am an ordinary person. But it was easy to follow the instructions shown in your web page for removing two step verification.
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Vickion 09/14/2021 at 2:12 pm
I turned off 2 step verification for my computer, however it is still asking for codes from my phone when I sign in – so apparently it didn’t turn it off!
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Jin Milleron 10/23/2022 at 7:54 am
Same for me. No change what so ever! They should spend their time fixing their site rather than “making sure it’s you”.
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Thomas Dawnon 11/02/2021 at 9:21 pm
If you make the mistake of leaving on your 2-Step verification and upgrade to a new phone, you will NEVER ever recover your Google gmail account. It is actually impossible, apparently. It always needs to verify by using an open gmail account on your old phone, and since you cannot do that, there is no way to recover your account. Stupid Google.
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Mikeon 06/20/2022 at 3:38 pm
Google is Ridiculous!! Ridiculous!! I kept same phone and changed phone number and have Gmail active on phone with three Gmail emails. The main Gmail I use for 2 step authentication it won’t show emails past a week ago.The other 2 Gmail emails I see all current emails. That right there stops me from logging in. This was the last option. Another option was to send to a different email which they have on file but 2 ridiculous things!!! They don’t simply send the 2 variation email to other email like they say on the screen. Instead….they send you a email and say we will send it in 48 hours…..then on top of that they change the topic to resetting the password instead of the 2 step verification code. I’m not trying to change the password. I already typed it in to get to the 2 step variation page. Google is Ridiculous!!!
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Anandon 10/05/2022 at 2:07 pm
Google is useless. Most cryptic. Their engineers don’t understand how people use the gmail. Microsoft, Amazon are much better at understanding people’s pulse.
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Anandon 10/05/2022 at 2:08 pm
I inputted my phone number in account signin and recovery, 2-step is turned off, but still sends code to a Tablet 🙁 🙁
Go figure….Reply
devinon 06/23/2022 at 2:35 pm
that does not sound true because it gives you an option to try another way. for example mine usually asks me to verify using my ipad or another device that you have signed on with in the passed or even account recovery.. so you just have to keep down the rabbit hole until it comes to an end
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Geoff Tomlinsonon 11/10/2021 at 6:46 am
Thank you for the info. Been driving me mad, only able to access email via Firefox, couldn’t use Outlook.
Thank you so much.Reply
Bobbyon 11/21/2021 at 9:10 am
This is really helpful
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Alon 12/01/2021 at 9:16 am
Its more than being tired of it. If you use an email client instead of web email. It quits working because a client logs in many times a day and has no ability to use two stage authenticatio. If you have multiple addresses, an email client, for example Mozilla Thunderbird,is the only sane approach.
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Valeria Chavezon 12/07/2021 at 7:11 am
So what if you can’t log in to your account since your phone has been stolen?
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Vladislavon 12/08/2021 at 2:08 pm
It appears that Google will be turning on 2-Step verification from time to time anyway. I disabled 2FA on all my accounts a few month ago, but recently I got a new email from Google that it will be auto enabled on December 9, 2021, and indeed it was auto (re)enabled. I disabled it again, but the question is: is Google planning to auto enable 2FA from time to time for all user anyway, regardless of their setup? It would be inconvenient for me to dump Google email accounts completely, but is this auto enabling of 2FA behind my back and contrary to my setup continues, I would be tempted to look for another email accounts.
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Davidon 01/31/2022 at 1:31 am
Time to replace Gmail.. I use Zoho mail now.
BTW using gmail in a client is less of a problem, google gives you a specific login code, after that you don’t need 2FA
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c.on 06/07/2022 at 4:08 pm
Hi, can you confirm the generated App Password for the email client will remain active after disabling 2-Step Verification?
Is there a way to generate App Password without giving the phone number?
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ongon 02/09/2022 at 8:12 pm
I would like to turn off the 2 verification to sign in, but did not see any pop up word ” turn off”
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Clarence Perryon 04/09/2022 at 6:26 pm
Me too. They just told me I was being switched to 2 step verification for security and was given no way to exit out.
Right now there are 4 G icons showing for me to log in and go looking for my cell phone. I know exactly where it is, on the other side of the house hooked to the charger where I put it when I come into the house.Being retired, I’m not wedded to my phone.
I finally got fed up and did a search and here I am. Hoping for a permanent cure.
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Stevenon 02/19/2022 at 12:41 pm
I lost my phone and I can’t login to my Gmail because of this 2 step verification. It’s also sending the sms on my old number which I don’t use anymore
My account have very important documents from work and also from insurance companies. I don’t know what to do now, I know my email address and my password but I can’t get in. Please help me
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Justinon 02/21/2022 at 2:24 pm
had set my recovery phone number to my Google Voice number, which I can’t access.
my recovery phone number IS MY GOOGLE VOICE NUMBER, so I obviously CANNOT RECEIVE TEXTS because I CANNOT ACCESS MY GOOGLE VOICE ACCOUNT because I CANNOT sign into MY GOOGLE ACCOUNT …@gmail.com! PLEASE HELP! backup gmail is …@gmail.com, which I *do* have access.
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DiDion 02/25/2022 at 11:46 pm
I travel the world, use a VPN and this doesn’t work as I always get an “unusual location detected”. I am also not able to use my google account on my phone as it won’t validate itself. This is often problematic. Stupid google!
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Antonetteon 03/03/2022 at 2:35 pm
I turned off 2 step verification on my primary and secondary e-mail accounts but sign in keeps on failing. I cannot send or receive e-mails on my primary account on my pc or phone. Secondary account are all working. How can i resolve this matter please?
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Parison 03/12/2022 at 8:20 pm
I lost my old phone including the phone number and I can no longer sign into any gmail or Google account as I had the 2 step verification code linked to that phone number, is there anything I can do?
Please helpReply
CSon 04/16/2022 at 10:11 am
That does not work for what happens to me. I get one of those “Is this you?” code requests for every single thing I do on Google websites. I really hate it and I need trust this device by serial number and name for these accounts settings.
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anon e mouseon 04/19/2022 at 1:59 pm
This is such bullsh*t. I see there are several people in the same predicament as me.
How do we protect ourselves from Google?!
What kind of class action lawsuit can be filed against them then? Theyre worse than the hackers they claim to be protecting us from.
Because I am sorry but this is absolutely UNACCEPTABLE. Google has NO BUSINESS taking over everything and inoculating itself into our lives so that we store all our important sh*t in Google drive and everything is connected to this Google acct for 20 years and we are relying on them and then suddenly one day out of nowhere for no reason just f*ck us with ‘sorry we need verification’ and tell us we are just sh*t out of luck.
No. I don’t think so.
GOOGLE NEEDS TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS.
THIS IS NOT WORKING AND IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
Obviously theres a bug or something because none of the things suggested for recovery work.
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Kien Nguyenon 06/20/2022 at 2:13 am
I have tried everything on web and gmail app but still can’t disable two step authentication, is there any other way please?
Thanks !Reply
elpidiovaldez5on 06/25/2022 at 6:19 am
I have 2FA turned off, but I still can’t use gmail when I travel or use another pc. It is driving me nuts – I don’t want to have to take a mobile phone everywhere ! The only solution seems to be finding another email service. Maybe ProtonMail ?
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Bir hang limbzzzon 10/24/2022 at 8:14 pm
2-Step Verification is ON since Oct 16, 2022
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Adrianon 10/18/2022 at 8:37 am
This method is not working. I already turned off the 2-Step Verification on my Google account – now is displayed as turned off – and in spite of this every time I try to login into Gmail on my computer, Gmail keeps sending to my smartphone two verification numbers that I must tap before letting me access my Gmail inbox on my computer and refuses to let me into my Gmail unless I tap those numbers sent on my smartphone.
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jonon 10/19/2022 at 4:22 am
this is very upsetting, I only use a mobile when there is wi-fi, and I never use it when I travel, does this mean I cannot continue using gmail?
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bobon 10/28/2022 at 1:38 pm
with 3 gmail accounts for specific activities, that google continues to change the rules in disguise of IMPROVEMENTS; thanks to my old reliable yahoo accounts. Junk mail and all. 9 years with the same info, methods, and sigh-in’s and all still working the same…..
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