Google 2-Step Verification can now be set up without your phone number; instead, you can use Google Authenticator or a hardware security key. There are changes coming to the way you set up 2-Step Verification (also known as 2FA or 2 2-factor authentication).
How to Set Up Google Authenticator in 5 Minutes!
In a post on the Google Workspace Updates blog on Monday, the company announced that it's changing the way you set up two-step verification. Previously, you had to provide a phone number to enable two-step verification; now you can add a "second-step method" such as Google Authenticator or a hardware security key.
If you choose to use the hardware security key, you can choose to 'Use security key' or 'Create passkey and follow instructions to 'use another device'. The first option allows you to use FIDO1 or FIDO2 credentials, while the second option allows you to use FIDO2 credentials. In that case, you will need to set a PIN on the security key.
If you're using a managed Google Workspace account, you may still need to sign in to your account with your password, depending on how your administrators have set up your account.
