Google has just unveiled a brand new way to get back into your account — and all it needs is your face.
The US technology firm announced its "selfie video" sign-in method, giving you the option to record a short clip of yourself as a backup way to prove your identity. It's designed for those moments we all dread — forgetting your password, losing your phone, or not having access to the computer you normally use.
Think of it a bit like Apple's Face ID, but rather than unlocking a single device, your selfie video is stored securely in the cloud so it works across any device you might need to sign in from.
The feature sits alongside other account recovery options like passkeys and recovery contacts, with Google recommending that people set up more than one method to keep their accounts safe.
Google said in a blog post: "Your Google Account holds a lot of valuable information, from cherished photos to important emails and documents. We always want to make sure that information is private, secure, and readily available to you, which is why we recommend setting up multiple sign-in methods."
Setting it up is meant to be simple. You open your device's camera, look at the screen, and follow a series of on-screen prompts that guide you through a few quick head movements — turning left, right, and so on — so Google can capture your face from several angles.
It works on both your phone and your computer, which is handy. If your PC doesn't have a webcam, you'll get a QR code to scan with your phone so you can finish the process there instead.
Google advises removing any glasses or face coverings before you start, and it's best to avoid including other people or busy backgrounds in the shot.
You can also reshoot your video whenever you like, or delete it entirely from your account settings if you change your mind.
It's worth noting that the feature isn't currently available for Workspace accounts, children's accounts, or those enrolled in Google's Advanced Protection Programme.
So how does Google stop someone from simply holding up a photo or a deepfake video — an increasingly common scam tactic — to trick the system? It turns out there are several layers of protection built in.
Each time you use the selfie method to log in, you'll need to perform simple head movements in real time, proving you're actually sitting in front of the camera rather than playing back a pre-recorded clip.
Google then matches this fresh video against the reference selfie you originally saved, checking that the two line up.
On top of that, the company uses its standard security practices to detect and block suspicious sign-in attempts.
Your stored video is encrypted at rest, meaning it stays protected even when it's not actively being used. By default, it's only used for signing in, though you can opt in to share it for other purposes if you wish.
You can check to see if your account is eligible for this feature by going to g.co/signin-selfie.
