How to sign in to Gmail when you know your password

Go to gmail.com in your web browser. Enter the email address or phone number connected to your account, then click Next. On the next screen, enter your password and click Next again. If you have two-step verification turned on, you will be asked to confirm your identity using your phone or a backup code.

If you are signing in on a device you use regularly, Gmail will ask if you want to stay signed in. Clicking Yes means you will not have to enter your password the next time you visit gmail.com on that device. On a shared computer or public device, always click No.

If you are using Gmail on your phone, download the Gmail app from the Google Play Store (Android) or the App Store (iPhone). Open the app, tap Sign in, and follow the same steps as above.

Key Takeaways

  • You can sign in to Gmail at gmail.com using your email address or phone number and your password.
  • If two-step verification is on, you will need to confirm your identity with your phone or a backup code after entering your password.
  • If you forgot your password, use the "Forgot password?" link on the sign-in screen to reset it using your recovery email or phone number.
  • If you cannot remember which email address or phone number you used to create your account, you can search for it using the account recovery tool.
  • If someone else is using your account, change your password immediately and review your recent activity to check for unauthorized access.

What to do if you forgot your password

Click Forgot password? on the Gmail sign-in screen. Enter the last password you remember, or click Try another way if you cannot remember any password. Google will ask you to verify your identity using a recovery email address or phone number you set up when you created your account.

If you have access to your recovery email, Google will send you a link to reset your password. Click the link, create a new password, and sign in. If you have access to your recovery phone number, Google will send you a code by text or call. Enter that code on the reset screen, then create your new password.

If you do not have access to your recovery email or phone, Google will ask security questions you answered when you created your account. Answer as many as you can remember. If you cannot answer enough questions, you may not be able to recover the account right away — Google may ask you to wait a few days and try again.

When you cannot remember your email address or phone number

If you do not remember the email address or phone number you used to create your Gmail account, use Google's account recovery tool at accounts.google.com/signin/recovery. Enter a recovery email address or phone number that you have access to now — this should be an address or number you added to your account at some point, even if it was years ago.

Google will send a code to that recovery email or phone. Enter the code, and Google will show you the email addresses and phone numbers connected to your account. From there, you can choose which one to use to sign in and reset your password if needed.

Checking if someone else is using your account

If you suspect someone else has signed into your Gmail, sign in yourself and go to myaccount.google.com. Click Security on the left side, then scroll down to Your devices and click Manage all devices. You will see a list of devices and locations where your account has been signed in recently.

If you see a device or location you do not recognize, click on it and select Sign out. Then go back to the Security page and change your password immediately. Use a password you have never used before, and make sure it is at least 12 characters long with a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

After changing your password, turn on two-step verification if you have not already. Go to myaccount.google.com, click Security, and look for 2-Step Verification. Follow the steps to set it up using your phone. This makes it much harder for someone else to sign in, even if they have your password.

Setting up two-step verification to protect your account

Two-step verification means Google asks for a second proof of who you are after you enter your password. Go to myaccount.google.com, click Security on the left, and find 2-Step Verification. Click get your free guide and choose whether you want to use your phone number or an authenticator app.

If you choose your phone number, Google will send you a code by text or call each time you sign in from a new device. If you choose an authenticator app like Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator, you will open the app on your phone to get a code instead. An authenticator app is more secure because it does not rely on text messages, which can be intercepted.

You can also add backup codes — a list of one-time codes you can use if you lose access to your phone. Write these codes down or save them in a safe place. If you ever cannot receive a text or open your authenticator app, you can use one of these codes to sign in.

Signing in on a new device or browser

The first time you sign in to Gmail on a new device or in a new browser, Google may ask you to verify your identity. This is a security measure to make sure it is really you. You will be asked to enter a code that Google sends to your recovery email or phone number.

If you have two-step verification turned on, you will also need to provide that second proof of identity. After you verify, you can choose to stay signed in on that device so you do not have to enter your password every time.

If you are trying to sign in on a device that belongs to someone else, or on a public computer at a library or internet cafe, do not click Stay signed in. Always sign out when you are done, and clear your browser's cache and cookies if the device allows it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I see a message saying my account has been compromised?

Google will sometimes warn you that your account may have been hacked or that your password was found in a data breach. Click the button to change your password right away. Use a password you have never used before, and turn on two-step verification if it is not already on. Check your recovery email and phone number to make sure they are still correct.

Can I sign in to Gmail without a password using my phone?

Yes. On the Gmail sign-in screen, after you enter your email address, you can tap Can't use your password? and choose to sign in using your phone instead. Google will send a notification to your phone asking you to confirm it is you. Tap yes on your phone, and you will be signed in without entering a password.

What if I keep getting an error message when I try to sign in?

Clear your browser's cache and cookies, then try again. If you are using an older browser, update it to the newest version. If you are on a work or school network, your network administrator may have blocked access to Gmail — try signing in on a different network or using your phone's data instead of WiFi.

How do I sign out of Gmail on all my devices at once?

Go to myaccount.google.com, click Security, and find Your devices. Click Manage all devices, then click Sign out of all other sessions at the bottom. This will sign you out everywhere except the device you are using right now.

Can I recover my Gmail account if I have not used it in years?

Yes, but it may take longer. Google may ask you to wait a few days before trying again, or to answer security questions about your account history. If you have a recovery email or phone number on file, use that to start the recovery process. If you do not, use the account recovery tool and provide any recovery contact information you remember adding to the account.