Forgetting your Gmail password can be frustrating, especially if you've also lost access to your recovery phone, trusted device or two-factor authentication app. To simplify account recovery, Google is introducing a new feature called Selfie Video, allowing users to verify their identity with a short video instead of relying entirely on traditional recovery methods.
According to Google, the feature is designed to help users regain access to their accounts when conventional sign-in options aren't available. It will be offered as an optional recovery method for Google Account users. Once enabled, Google may ask you to record a quick selfie video during the recovery process to confirm your identity before restoring access to your account.
How Google Selfie Video works
To use the feature, you'll first need to set it up while you still have access to your Google Account. During the setup process, Google will prompt you to record a short selfie video by looking into your device's camera and following simple on-screen instructions, such as turning your head or making slight movements. This recording will serve as your reference video.
If you later forget your password or lose access to your usual sign-in methods, Google will ask you to record another selfie video. The system will compare this new recording with the reference video stored in your account to verify that it's really you.
Google says the guided head movements help confirm that the recording is live, making it much harder to fool the system using a photograph or a pre-recorded video.
Built to detect deepfakes
With AI-generated deepfakes becoming increasingly sophisticated, Google says it has incorporated multiple security measures into the feature.
In addition to matching your new selfie video with the stored reference, the system checks for signs that a real person is in front of the camera rather than someone using manipulated images, synthetic videos or AI-generated faces.
The verification process also works alongside Google's existing security systems, which analyse factors such as the device being used, browser configuration, IP address, location and whether the login attempt appears unusual.
What about privacy?
Since facial data is considered biometric information, Google says users remain in control of how it is stored and used.
The reference selfie video is recorded only with the user's consent, encrypted while stored and can be deleted at any time through Google Account settings.
By default, the stored video is used only for account recovery and sign-in verification. Users can also choose to allow Google to use it to improve its identity verification technology, but this is optional.
Google continues to recommend keeping other recovery options enabled, including passkeys, backup codes, recovery phone numbers and recovery email addresses. That way, if one recovery method isn't available, you'll still have alternative ways to regain access to your account.
Availability
Google says the Selfie Video feature is being rolled out gradually to Google Account users worldwide.
