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Getting Gmail Verification Codes Without a Smartphone, or a Phone at All
Q. Is there any way to use Gmail’s two-step security system if you do not have a working cell signal — or even a mobile phone capable of getting text messages with the codes needed to log in?
A. While codes sent via text message are a common and convenient way to use Google’s two-step verification system for account security, Google has devised several other ways to provide the codes. You do not have to have an active cellular signal or even a mobile phone.
If you are traveling to a place where you will not have a signal or a way to receive text messages, you can generate and print out a set of 10 backup codes in advance to take with you. Each time you log in to your account, use one of the printed codes as the second verification step.
You can also use the printed codes if you do not have a phone capable of text messaging, or if you do not have mobile phone at all. To create the codes, you need to log in to your Google account settings page. Click on your profile photo in the upper-right side of your Gmail page, click the “My Account” button and then click “Signing into Google.” Enter your account password if asked, and click “2-Step Verification” on the next screen.
On the 2-Step Verification page, you can create and print a set of backup codes. If you do not want to use printed codes, the 2-Step Verification page also has settings for getting a code delivered by a voice call to your landline or another phone. If you have a smartphone but no Internet access, you can use the Google Authenticator app — which you will need to download ahead of time — to receive codes for Android, BlackBerry or iOS instead of printed codes or phone calls.
Personal Tech invites questions about computer-based technology to techtip@nytimes.com. This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually.
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