Google is rolling out a new optional sign-in and account recovery feature designed to make accessing a Google account easier and more secure. The feature enables users to verify their identity using a selfie video, particularly in situations where they have forgotten their password, lost their phone, or no longer have access to their usual device.
According to Google, users will first need to record a short enrollment selfie video by following on-screen instructions. The process requires users to move their face from different angles, allowing the system to capture facial details for more accurate identity verification.
If users later need to sign in or recover their account, they will be asked to record a new live selfie video. Google will securely compare this live recording with the previously stored, encrypted enrollment video using advanced facial verification technology.
Forgot your password? Lost your phone? Can’t get into your account?
— Google (@Google) July 23, 2026
You can now use a selfie video to log into your Google Account.
The new feature is easy to use and lets you sign in — even if you forget your password or don’t have your usual phone or laptop — with a quick… pic.twitter.com/3TbdIKLTM9
The company said the system also uses liveness detection, a security measure designed to confirm that the video is of a real person and not generated using artificial intelligence or deepfake technology.
Google noted that the new feature is being introduced alongside modern authentication methods such as Passkeys, giving users additional secure alternatives to traditional password-based sign-ins.
The company also emphasized that users can delete their stored selfie video at any time. The feature is being rolled out gradually and is currently available only to eligible personal Google accounts, meaning not all users will receive access immediately.
