It’s one of the most stressful digital moments — you get locked out of your Google account. No passwords seem to work, recovery emails are outdated, and security questions feel like riddles from another lifetime.
Now, Google is finally trying to make that nightmare a little easier to wake up from.
The company just announced a new feature called Recovery Contacts, a tool that lets you choose trusted friends or family members who can help you verify your identity if you ever lose access to your account.
How It Works
Instead of depending only on security questions or recovery emails, Recovery Contacts allows someone you trust to confirm your identity on Google’s behalf. Google hasn’t gone into full detail about how the system verifies the user, but the idea is simple: if you’re locked out, you can reach out to a pre-approved contact who can vouch for you and help you get back in. According to Google, the goal is to give users “a simple and secure way to regain access when standard recovery methods fail.”
The feature is starting to roll out for personal Google accounts, and you’ll be able to find it under the Security section in your account settings.
Sign In with Mobile Number
Google is also introducing another helpful recovery option called Sign In with Mobile Number, and it’s especially useful for Android users. If you ever lose your device or move to a new one, this feature will automatically detect the Google account linked to your phone number. Instead of typing in a password, you’ll just need to enter your old phone’s lock-screen passcode to confirm your identity. That means you can skip the long password recovery process entirely — no waiting for emails, no backup codes, just your phone number and your passcode.
Google says this option is being rolled out gradually worldwide, so it might take a little time before everyone sees it.
A Step Toward Simpler Security
These updates are part of Google’s larger effort to make security more human — and less of a headache. Alongside account recovery improvements, Google has been quietly rolling out new anti-scam and safety tools.
For example, Google Messages now warns you when a text might contain a suspicious link. There’s also a Key Verifier tool that helps confirm whether you’re chatting with a trusted contact or an impersonator trying to trick you.
All these features are part of a single idea: making account safety stronger without making it complicated.
Why This Matters
If you’ve ever been locked out of your main Google account — where your Gmail, Drive, and photos all live — you know how helpless it feels. This new approach takes a more human route. Instead of endless verification steps or forgotten backup codes, you can now rely on someone you trust. It turns recovery from a cold technical process into something personal. It’s a small change that could save people a lot of frustration — and maybe even a few panicked nights.
