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Locked out of your Google account? Now a friend can help - here's how

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You can turn to trusted contacts to recover your Google account.

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We've probably all been locked out of an account at one time or another. It's not that hard, especially if it's one you don't use frequently. You forget or mistype your PIN or password enough times, and poof, you're denied access. Now, Google has cooked up a new and unique way to recover your account if you're locked out.

Recovery contacts

A new feature called Recovery contacts lets you assign a trusted friend or family member to help you get back into your Google account. If you forget your password, lose your passkey device, or even suffer an account compromise, the people you choose can verify your identity, allowing you to recover your account.

To set this up, sign in to your Google account on a desktop or mobile device. Select the Security option, look for the section on how you sign in to Google, select the button for Recovery contacts, and then click the button to add a recovery contact. Type the name or email address of your trusted contact and click Continue. You're then prompted to send them a request to serve as your recovery contact.

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