Google adds selfie video checks for account recovery
The new sign-in option lets users verify ownership by recording a short video that Google compares with a stored reference clip.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
Google is adding a selfie-video option for people trying to get back into their accounts. The feature gives users another way to verify their identity when they are locked out, have forgotten a password or cannot use the usual phone, computer or two-factor authentication app, according to Google.
The system asks a user to record a short video of their face on a mobile device or PC. Google says it then checks that clip against a previously saved reference video to confirm the person attempting to sign in owns the account.
Google says setup involves looking into the device camera and following on-screen directions. Those prompts ask for basic head movements so the system can capture the face from more than one angle.
The process resembles face setup for biometric systems such as Apple’s Face ID, though Google’s method does not require added infrared light, according to details reported by The Verge. Google’s version relies on a short video recording rather than a device-only facial scan.
Google says the reference video is recorded and stored securely in the cloud with encryption. Because the clip is cloud-based, Google says it can be used beyond the device on which it was first created.
Users can remove the saved reference video through their Google Account, according to the company. Google says the video is used by default to help with sign-in, while users may choose to share it for other purposes.
During a later sign-in attempt, Google says the user records another brief video and follows simple movement prompts. The movements are meant to show the video is being captured live and to give Google enough information to compare the new clip with the stored one.
The feature adds to Google’s existing account recovery and security options at a time when many users depend on phones and authentication apps to prove account ownership. If those devices or apps are unavailable, recovery can become harder, especially for accounts protected by two-factor authentication.
Google has not described the selfie-video option as replacing passwords, passkeys or other security checks. Based on Google’s description, it is an additional way to prove identity when standard sign-in paths are unavailable.
The company’s support materials say the feature can be set up through a Google Account. Google’s announcement frames it as a recovery tool for account access, with the saved video serving as the baseline for later identity checks.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.