Google introduces a new account recovery option that lets users sign in with a selfie video, stored encrypted on Google's servers, with optional consent to improve facial recognition tech.
<p>Getting locked out of an account is no fun. Google has a few ways to help you regain access if you happen to forget your password or lose an authenticator, including recovery contacts and backup codes. Now, Google has a completely new option: <a href="https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/technology/safety-security/selfie-video-sign-in/">your face</a>. You can now give Google a video record of your face and sign into your account with a selfie, which sounds like something people are going to just love.</p>
<p>You will have to set this feature up ahead of time if you want the option of regaining account access with a selfie later on. To get started, verify your account type is supported. You won't be able to configure selfie sign-ins for Workspace accounts, child accounts, or any account enrolled in Google's Advanced Protection Program.</p>
<p>Configuring selfie sign-in requires you to record a video, which Google will store on its servers. Google's selfie sign-in <a href="https://myaccount.google.com/video-verification/signin/precollection?utm_source=kw&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=selfielaunch">landing page</a> includes the typical disclaimers about privacy and data access, promising that the company will keep the video encrypted and won't use it for any other purposes unless you opt in.</p><p><a href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/07/google-now-lets-you-log-into-your-account-with-a-selfie/">Read full article</a></p>
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# Forgot your Google password? Now you can log in with a selfie.
Source: [https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/07/google-now-lets-you-log-into-your-account-with-a-selfie/](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/07/google-now-lets-you-log-into-your-account-with-a-selfie/)
Getting locked out of an account is no fun\. Google has a few ways to help you regain access if you happen to forget your password or lose an authenticator, including recovery contacts and backup codes\. Now, Google has a completely new option:[your face](https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/technology/safety-security/selfie-video-sign-in/)\. You can now give Google a video record of your face and sign into your account with a selfie, which sounds like something people are going to just love\.
You will have to set this feature up ahead of time if you want the option of regaining account access with a selfie later on\. To get started, verify your account type is supported\. You won’t be able to configure selfie sign\-ins for Workspace accounts, child accounts, or any account enrolled in Google’s Advanced Protection Program\.
Configuring selfie sign\-in requires you to record a video, which Google will store on its servers\. Google’s selfie sign\-in[landing page](https://myaccount.google.com/video-verification/signin/precollection?utm_source=kw&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=selfielaunch)includes the typical disclaimers about privacy and data access, promising that the company will keep the video encrypted and won’t use it for any other purposes unless you opt in\.
Selfie videos can be used for login purposes, to verify your age for accessing certain account features, and to create an AI avatar\. Currently, Google does have an optional toggle in the setup flow that allows the company to use your selfie video to improve its facial recognition tech\. A Google spokesperson confirms this is not required to use the new account recovery feature, and the company will not use the video for anything else if you leave the box unchecked\.
Google now allows users to set up a selfie video as an additional sign-in verification method, helping recover access when devices are lost. The feature includes liveness detection and an optional data-sharing option for training Google's facial recognition.
Google Vids updates allow users to create custom digital avatars from a selfie and voice recording, and integrates Gemini Omni for multi-modal video creation and step-by-step editing, positioning it as an all-in-one video platform.
Google is testing a new reCAPTCHA that asks users to wave their hand at their camera, which a commentator warns is a threat to biometric privacy and should be avoided.
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