- Keep your account secure via Google’s Security Checkup feature by going to Google.com > Security > You have security recommendations.
- You can suddenly receive verification codes from Google if someone’s using your phone number to create a new account. Ignore these codes but don’t share them with anyone else.
- Other reasons for unrequested codes include unusual sign-ins or password resets either by you or someone else.
Receiving Google verification codes that you didn’t request? While you can ignore these codes, doing a few checks and actions to improve your account’s security is still important. We’ll show you what to do, including changing your password and using Google’s Security Checkup, and explain why you’re receiving unrequested codes.
Action 1. Change Your Google Account Password
If you receive a Google verification code that you didn’t request, change your password to immediately secure your account.
On your browser, type Google.com and press Enter. Once you’re on Google’s official website, click your profile icon on the upper right. From the menu that appears, click Manage your Google Account.
You will be redirected to your Google Account page. Using the left-side options, choose Security. Under How you sign in to Google, click Password.
On the sign-in page, Google will ask you to log in to your account to verify your identity. Enter your password and click Next.
Once signed in, you’ll see the Password page. Click New password and enter a new, strong password. Confirm your password by typing it again in the Confirm new password text field. To save your changes, click Change password.
Keep in mind that you will be signed out of all of your apps and devices upon changing your password. Make sure to take note of your new password to avoid sign-in issues.
You can also see the option to change your password by navigating to Personal info > Other info and preferences for Google services > Password.
Action 2. Run Google’s Security Checkup
For a more comprehensive check, use Google’s Security Checkup feature. It will show you areas in your account’s security that can be improved together with apt recommendations. Here’s how you run it.
Open your browser and go to Google.com. In the upper right, click your profile icon and, from the menu that appears, choose Manage your Google Account.
This will open your Google Account page. From the options on the left, click the Security tab. Then, under the You have security recommendations section, select Protect your account.
You will now be redirected to the Security Checkup interface. Here, you’ll see a personalized overview of your account’s security status. You’ll also see recommendations in various areas, such as your password strength, two-factor authentication, recovery details, third-party app access, and device activity.
Expand the option marked with an exclamation mark icon and follow the on-screen instructions to improve your account’s security.
To shorten this process, copy the following link and paste it directly to your browser’s address bar: https://myaccount.google.com/intro/security-checkup.
Someone Might Be Using Your Phone Number to Create an Account
Receiving a Google verification code you didn’t request can be concerning, but here are a few possible explanations:
- Someone might have accidentally entered your phone number as their recovery phone number during sign-up. This is unlikely, but always possible.
- In rare cases, someone might have mistakenly used your phone number to receive a verification code. This is more likely if you have a common phone number or one similar to someone else’s.
You can ignore these verification codes, but make sure you don’t share them with anyone else to avoid giving them potential access to your account. Google can also send you codes in the following cases:
- You have enabled two-factor authentication (2FA).
- You’re trying to reset your password.
- You’re signing in from a new location (or someone might be doing so).
Find out more information about verification codes by visiting the official support page for when Google might send you a text.
And that’s how you keep your account secure in the face of unrequested Google verification codes. If you’re still worried, more extreme options you can consider include changing your phone number or creating a new account altogether.