Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Phones
  3. Android
  4. Computing
  5. Mobile
  6. News

Android phones can now be used as a physical security key to your Google account

By
Add as a preferred source on Google

Worried about your digital security? Google has released a new way to get secure two-factor authentication that uses your phone as a kind of physical security key. In other words, if your phone has Android 7 or newer, you can use the physical device to log into Google apps and services on another device, without the need for a dongle.

To use the new feature, you will need to connect your phone to a computer through Bluetooth using the Chrome browser — and Chrome will then use the phone to verify a login. The new tech will work for logging into Gmail, G Suite, Google Cloud, and any other Google service that uses the FIDO authentication standard.

Recommended Videos

Of course, you might know that there are already ways to use your phone to log in to Google apps and services, including Google Prompt. Prompt, however, doesn’t require your phone to be near the computer you’re logging into — meaning that someone could still try and spoof your account without being anywhere near your phone.

There are plenty of reasons why it’s a good idea to enable two-factor authentication — but the most obvious is that it essentially prevents someone from logging into your account even if they’ve gotten hold of your password. Some two-factor authentication methods are a little less secure than others — but this new one is ultra secure as it requires your phone to be near the computer you’re logging in to.

How to use your phone for two-factor authentication

It’s pretty easy to enable the phone-based two-factor authentication. Simply follow the steps below to get started.

  1. Make sure you’re using a phone with Android 7 or later and the Chrome browser on macOS, Chrome OS, or Windows 10.
  2. Sign in to your Google account on your Android phone, and turn on Bluetooth.
  3. Head to myaccount.google.com/security in your Chrome browser on your computer, and hit the two-step verification button.
  4. Press the add a security key option, and select your phone from the list of devices.

You’ll now be able to use your phone for two-factor authentication to log in to Google services in any Chrome browser.

Christian de Looper
Christian de Looper
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Christian de Looper is a long-time freelance writer who has covered every facet of the consumer tech and electric vehicle…
Topics
T-Mobile’s new plans let you pick your own perks instead of a fixed bundle
T-Mobile launches T-Mix plans with customizable perks and three pricing tiers.
t-mobile-logo-on-phone

Are you tired of paying for streaming services you never watch just to get a phone plan feature you actually want? T-Mobile has good news for you! The carrier is rolling out new plans, called T-Mix, in early November to replace its old Experience lineup with a build-your-own perks system called Picks.

The benefits you choose vary from streaming and gaming to food delivery, AI, satellite service, and phone discounts. But if you are satisfied with your existing plan, you can keep it.

Read more
Apple is investigating cracked screens on the iPhone Duo and replacing broken units
Apple assures that not all units of the iPhone Duo are affected by the display issue.
iPhone Duo screen in the hand.

Merely days after the iPhone Duo hit the shelves, images of broken screens on the phone started popping up across social media. Until now, it’s been unclear what’s causing the line of defective pixels that appears vertically along the crease, as well as horizontally, on the phone’s inner display.

Apple has finally acknowledged the issue, which has shown up on iPhone Duo units owned by customers as well as demo units in stores. In a statement shared with Bloomberg, Apple says that not all iPhone Duo units are affected and that those that are tend to show the display fault early on. The company added that users who experience problems with their iPhone Duo display should contact AppleCare for a replacement.

Read more
Apple quietly hopes to end the gizmo right-to-repair war. The iPhone Duo is the latest specimen.
The right-to-repair movement has entered its fine-print era.
iPhone Duo on MagSafe mount with screen half open

Not long ago, Apple treated independent repair like an act of outright hostility. The Cupertino giant locked down parts with serial-number pairing, while repair tools remained firmly out of reach of anyone outside its authorized repair network. More importantly, the company waged a legal and lobbying battle against right-to-repair legislation.

I've covered enough of these fights over the years to know what a shift looks like. That's why what happened in October 2026 genuinely caught me off guard. The day the iPhone Duo went on sale, what may be the most mechanically complex iPhone to date, Apple pulled off a surprising about-face. It published teardown-style repair manuals for a handful of major components.

Read more