PSA: I turned on two-factor for my old email and got locked out for a day

I finally set up 2FA on my main Gmail account, but I forgot to save the backup codes. When my phone got a weird glitch and reset, I couldn't get the text code and was totally locked out for a full 24 hours. What's the best way to store those backup codes so you don't lose them?

3 comments

3 Comments

jadew631mo ago

This happens more often than people admit. I keep a small paper notebook in my desk drawer just for codes and passwords. Writing them down feels old-fashioned, but it's not tied to any device that can fail. Just make sure that notebook stays somewhere safe at home.

bennett.noah1mo ago

Totally get that. I still have a sticky note on my monitor that just says "password" from like 2018.

nathana4823d ago

Sticky notes and notebooks feel safer than trusting some cloud service that might vanish someday.