The fastest way to access your Google account
Go to accounts.google.com in any web browser and enter the email address or phone number linked to your account. Google will then ask for your password. If you have two-step verification turned on, you'll need to confirm your identity using a second method — usually a code sent to your phone or generated by an authenticator app.
On phones and tablets, you can also add your Google account directly in the device settings. On Android, go to Settings > Accounts > Add Account > Google and follow the same email and password steps. On iPhone or iPad, open Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account > Google. Either way, once you sign in, your email, calendar, contacts, and other Google services sync automatically.
If you don't remember your password, click "Forgot password?" on the sign-in page. Google will ask you to verify your identity — usually by entering a recovery email address or phone number you set up earlier — then let you create a new one.
Key Takeaways
- Visit accounts.google.com and enter your email address and password to sign in on any computer or browser.
- On Android phones, add your account through Settings > Accounts > Add Account > Google; on iPhone, use Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account > Google.
- If you forget your password, use the "Forgot password?" link and verify your identity with a recovery email or phone number.
- Two-step verification adds a second security check — usually a code to your phone — when you sign in from a new device.
- Once signed in, your Gmail, Drive, Photos, Calendar, and other Google services work together across all your devices.
Signing in on a computer or laptop
Open any web browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, or any other — and type accounts.google.com into the address bar. You'll see a sign-in page with two fields: one for your email address or phone number, and one for your password. Enter your email first, then click Next. On the next screen, enter your password and click Next again.
If your account uses two-step verification, Google will ask you to confirm your identity. You might receive a code by text message, see a prompt on another device you own, or use an authenticator app like Google Authenticator or Authy. Enter or approve the code, and you'll be signed in. Your account stays signed in on that browser until you manually sign out, even if you close the window.
If you use the same computer as other people, always sign out when you're done. Click your profile picture in the top right corner of any Google page and select "Sign out." This prevents others from seeing your email, files, or personal information.
Signing in on Android phones and tablets
Open the Settings app and scroll down to find Accounts (the exact location varies by phone maker, but it's usually near the bottom). Tap Accounts, then tap "Add Account" or the plus icon. Select Google from the list of account types.
Enter your email address and tap Next. Then enter your password and tap Next again. If two-step verification is on, complete the verification step using your phone or authenticator app. Google will then ask permission to sync your contacts, calendar, email, and other data — you can turn any of these on or off. Once you finish, your Google account is linked to your phone, and Gmail, Google Drive, and other apps will work automatically.
You can add multiple Google accounts to the same phone. Go back to Settings > Accounts > Add Account > Google and repeat the process with a different email address. You can then switch between accounts in Gmail, Drive, and other apps by tapping your profile picture.
Signing in on iPhone and iPad
Open the Settings app and scroll down to Mail. Tap Mail, then tap Accounts, then tap Add Account. Select Google from the list. Enter your email address and tap Next, then enter your password and tap Next again.
If you have two-step verification enabled, you'll need to complete the verification step. Google will then ask which services you want to sync — Mail, Contacts, Calendars, Notes, and others. Toggle each one on or off depending on what you want on your device, then tap Save. Your account is now linked, and the Mail app will show your Gmail inbox.
Unlike Android, iPhone and iPad don't automatically add your Google account to all Google apps. You'll still need to open the Gmail app, Google Drive app, or Google Photos app separately and sign in there if you want to use them. You can add multiple Google accounts the same way — just repeat the process in Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account > Google.
What to do if you forget your password
On the sign-in page at accounts.google.com, enter your email address and click Next. On the password screen, click "Forgot password?" below the password field. Google will ask you to enter the last password you remember. If you can't remember any password, click "Try another way."
Google will then ask you to verify your identity. The most common methods are entering a recovery email address you set up earlier or entering a recovery phone number. If you have both, Google usually tries the recovery email first. Once you verify your identity, you can create a new password. Make it something you haven't used before and something only you know.
If you can't access your recovery email or phone number, Google has additional verification steps — you may need to answer security questions you set up when you created the account, or provide other information about your account history. The process can take a few minutes, but Google is designed to let you back in without needing to contact support.
Understanding two-step verification
Two-step verification adds a second security check when you sign in, especially from a new device or browser. After you enter your password, Google asks you to prove you own the account using a second method. This prevents someone who knows your password from accessing your account.
The most common second method is a code sent to your phone by text message. You receive a six-digit code, enter it on the sign-in page, and you're in. Another option is an authenticator app like Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, or Authy — these apps generate a new code every 30 seconds without needing an internet connection. You can also approve sign-in requests directly on another device you own, like your phone or tablet.
Two-step verification is optional, but Google recommends it for any account that contains important files, photos, or personal information. You can turn it on in your Google Account settings under Security. Once it's on, you'll use it every time you sign in from a new device, though Google usually remembers devices you use regularly and won't ask again.
Staying signed in across Google services
Once you sign into your Google Account at accounts.google.com, you're automatically signed into Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, Google Calendar, YouTube, and other Google services on that same browser. You don't need to sign in separately to each one. Click the Google apps menu (the grid icon in the top right corner of most Google pages) to jump between services.
On your phone or tablet, the behavior is different. Signing into your Google Account in Settings (on Android) or Mail settings (on iPhone) doesn't automatically sign you into the Gmail app or Google Drive app. You need to open each app and sign in separately, though you can use the same email and password. Once you do, those apps stay signed in and sync your data in the background.
If you sign out of your account on a shared computer, you're signed out of all Google services on that browser. On your phone, signing out of one app doesn't sign you out of others — you have to sign out of each one individually if you want to remove your account from that device.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if I see "Couldn't sign you in" or "Wrong password"?
First, make sure you're typing your email address correctly — it's easy to mistype a character. Check that Caps Lock is off. If you're sure the password is right, use the "Forgot password?" link to reset it. If you still can't sign in after resetting, your account may have been compromised, and you should check your recovery email and phone number in your account settings to make sure they're still yours.
Can I sign into my Google Account on multiple devices at the same time?
Yes. You can be signed into your Google Account on your phone, tablet, laptop, and work computer all at once. Each device stays signed in independently. If you want to sign out on one device, it doesn't affect the others. You can see all the devices signed into your account and sign out remotely from any of them in your Google Account settings under Security > Your devices.
What's the difference between signing in and adding an account?
Signing in at accounts.google.com is temporary — you're accessing your account in a web browser, and you stay signed in until you sign out. Adding an account in your phone or tablet settings is permanent — your account stays linked to that device, and apps sync automatically in the background. You can add multiple accounts to one device, but you can only be signed into one account at a time in a web browser.
Is it safe to stay signed in on a public computer?
No. Always sign out when you're done using a public computer, library computer, or anyone else's device. If you forget to sign out, anyone who uses that computer afterward can see your email, files, and personal information. If you realize you forgot to sign out, go to accounts.google.com, click your profile picture, and select "Sign out of all other sessions" to sign out remotely from every device except the one you're currently using.
What should I do if I think someone else is using my account?
Go to your Google Account settings and check Security > Your devices to see all the devices and browsers signed into your account. If you see a device you don't recognize, click it and select "Sign out." Then change your password immediately. If you see suspicious activity, turn on two-step verification to add an extra security layer and prevent unauthorized access in the future.