Common questions with Advanced Protection Program (2024)

Get answers to frequently asked questions or troubleshoot issues with the Advanced Protection Program.

After you sign in with your password, both 2-Step Verification and Advanced Protection require a second step to verify it's you.

With2-Step Verification, the second step could be a:

• Prompt sent to your phone
• Verification code
• Security key

With Advanced Protection, the second step is always a security key because it's a more secure way to sign in.

Also, Advanced Protection limits third-party appaccess to your data, puts stronger checks on suspicious downloads, and tightens account recovery security to help prevent unauthorized access.

• Add a recovery email and phone number to your Google Account to help you recover the account if you get locked out.
• If you have an iPhone, make sure you have the Google Smart Lock app installed. Youneed this when you enroll.
• Turn on 2-Step Verification in your Google Account.
• Order one or more security keys, if you don’t already have them.

Yes, if your admin has enabled Advanced Protection. Check with them before you enroll. Your admin can also enroll all accounts in the organization.

If you still have account access:

1. Get one or morereplacement security keys.
2. Go to your Google Account.
3. On the left navigation panel, click Security.
4. In the "How you sign in to Google" panel, click Passkeys and security keys.
5. Click Add security key. Add your new security keys.
6. Next to the lost security key, select Edit Remove this key.

If you don't have account access:

1. Submit a request to recover your account. It takes a few days for Google to verify it’s you.
2. While you wait, order one ormorereplacement security keys.
3. You'll get an email to your recovery email address to let you know when you can access your account again. After you get that notification, sign in to your account.
4. Turn on Advanced Protection again.

You should keep your security key with you any time you might need to sign in on a new device.

If you travel, bring your security key with you. You should charge anyBluetooth security keys before you leave.

You can still sign into apps and services with Google. If they request access to your Gmail or Drive data, access is denied.

Tip: You can use an extra code to give some supported apps access to your Gmail or Drive data.

Yes, Nest works with Google Accounts, including accounts that are enrolled in the Advanced Protection Program. To help you manage all your Google Nest and Google Home devices, you can migrate your Nest Account to a Google Account.

For privacy-related info about Google Nest connected home devices and services, check these FAQs on privacy.

Share with other home members more securely

To help keep your Google Nest and Google Home devices secure, follow these tips:

1. Only add home members you trust. Keep in mind that:
   • Any home member can access devices, media services, addresses, and home activity.
   • Home members can add new devices to your home.
   • Home members can add or remove other home members, including you. Anytime a member is added to your home, all home membersget an email notification.
2. If your Google Account is enrolled in Advanced Protection, we strongly recommend that all home members enroll in Advanced Protection. That way, all home members are equally protected against unauthorized access to their Google Account and home devices or services.

Most non-Google apps and services are blocked

Advanced Protection stops most non-Google apps and services from accessing data like your Google Drive and Gmail data. That way, your data is better protected against harmful or unsecure access.

After you turn on Advanced Protection, you can allow these apps and services to access your Google data:

• All Google apps and services
• Apple Mail, Calendar, and Contacts apps on iOS and macOS
• Mozilla Thunderbird
• Desktop email clients that access Gmail directly

Let non-Google Apps access your Google data

Apple apps on iOS

You can use a temporary code to let some Apple apps access your Gmail and some other Google Account data.

Mozilla Thunderbird

You can use Mozilla Thunderbird to access your Gmail. Make sure you’re using the latest version of Thunderbird (60.0 or up).

Apps Script may be blocked

If you're enrolled in Advanced Protection, Apps Script can be used. If scripts request access to certain data in your account, like emails, documents, or photos, they may be blocked.

You can use Advanced Protection with a Mac running macOS 10.5 or above. To add a security key, use the following steps:

1. On your computer, go to System Preferences.
2. ClickInternet AccountGoogle.
3. Follow the instructions to sign in.

Important: These steps only apply if your account uses Advanced Protection.

You can create a temporary code to let Apple’s Mail, Contacts, and Calendar apps on iOS access your Gmail and some other Google Account data.

1. If you haven’t already, install the Google Smart Lock app.
2. On your iPhone or iPad, open Settings .
3. Tap Passwords & AccountsAdd AccountGoogle.
4. Follow the instructions to sign in to your account.
5. When you’re prompted, open the Google Smart Lock app.
6. Sign in or choose your account.
7. Follow the steps to create a 6-digit temporary code.
8. Open Settings again.
9. Enter your 6-digit code.
10. Tap Next.

If you get an error after signing in

If you get an error like, "There was a problem accessing your account," use these steps to sign in:

1. On your iPhone or iPad, tap Settings .
2. Tap Passwords & AccountsGmailDelete AccountDelete from My iPhone.
   • This removesyour account from the phone, but doesn’t delete the data from your Google Account.
3. On the "Passwords & Accounts " screen, tap Add AccountGoogle.
4. Start again on step 4 for using your Google Account with some iPhone or iPad apps.

If you're seeing password prompts every few minutes

You can follow the instructions above to let Apple’s Mail, Contacts, and Calendar apps access your Gmail and some other Google Account data.

How can I protect my Google Account from iCloud backup risks?

Can third-party email clients get Google’s protection against harmful links?

You might not be signed in to the Google Account that was invited to Advanced Protection.

If you’re signed in with multiple accounts, sign out of all other accounts. After you've set up Advanced Protection, you can sign back into your other accounts.

To set up a Security Key on a computer running a Linux-based operating system, you may need to add a new udev rule.

1. Go to this directory: /etc/udev/rules.d
2. Create a new file for your Security Key.
3. Name your file (for example: 70-key.rules).
4. In the new file, paste the instructions for your udev version. If you don’t know your udev version, run the command:sudo udevadm --version
   • Udev version 188 or higher:
     • KERNEL=="hidraw*", SUBSYSTEM=="hidraw", ATTRS{idVendor}=="18d1|096e", ATTRS{idProduct}=="5026|0858|085b", TAG+="uaccess"
   • Udev version 187 or lower:
     • KERNEL=="hidraw*", SUBSYSTEM=="hidraw", ATTRS{idVendor}=="18d1", ATTRS{idProduct}=="5026", GROUP="plugdev", MODE="0660"
5. Save your file and run the command:sudo udevadm control --reload-rules

Restart your computer and Add a Security Key to your Google Account.

If Safe Browsing can’t confirm that a download is safe, Chrome warns you that the file may be dangerous. You have the option to send this file to Advanced Protection to be scanned.

Tip:Any file you upload to be scanned helps discover new threats and protect everyone on the web.

Continue a download that Chrome warned you about

Important: To protect your account and sensitive data, do not download files you’re warned about unless you’re certain that they’re safe.

On your Android phone or tablet, turn on Bluetooth. If your security key still won't connect, temporarily turn on Location Services when you use your security key.

You can turn offAdvanced Protectionin your Google Account.

1. Go to the Security section of your Google Account using a device that’s already signed in.
2. Under "Advanced Protection Program," select Unenroll.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to unenroll.

To sign in to your Android TV after you turn on Advanced Protection:

1. Remove your Google Account from your Android TV.
2. Add your Google Account to your Android TV again and choose the option to set up using a phone that's on the same Wi-Fi network.