What is a google id: Complete guide to managing features?

google id

A complete and detailed guide to managing the features of the Google Gmail account to make each Big G service more and more efficient.

The Google account is a personal email address. This allows you to manage all the services connected to the Google ecosystem, organizing the various features from the main profile screen. In this way, it is possible to integrate with the account of the history of web searches. The positions recorded by Google Maps, the videos seen on YouTube. And quickly authenticate on any compatible platform, both internal such as Google Drive and Play Store and external such as Amazon and Booking.com.

Google account: what is a google id and how it works

Google is increasingly a service provider, not just a search engine. The Mountain View, California-based company provides users with email mailboxes via Gmail. Apps for Android devices on the Google Play Store, cloud computing services with Google Drive, extensions for the Chrome browser. And integrations with all other ecosystem platforms, including Youtube for video sharing, Waze and Google Maps for GPS navigation, and Google Flight for air flights.

To manage all these services just register an email address. Creating an email box with Gmail. In this, it is possible to access all other Google systems. Without having to carry out the authentication procedure every time. In recent years the Google account has become an indispensable tool for millions of users. Especially for those who use devices with Android and Windows operating systems. However, also the people who use the services of the bitten apple, for which the Apple ID is required. , they can still activate a Google account.

How to create a Google account from pc and smartphone

To create a Google account you need to choose an email address. Through the Gmail service, a completely free email provider. Taking advantage of up to a maximum of 25 GB for attachments, 2,000 messages sent per day. And 99 recipients to be included in the same email. To create an account from your PC, Windows or Mac OS, just open the browser. Click on the Gmail item at the top right or type the address in the search bar, selecting Create an account.

Then just enter some personal information, such as your name and surname, choose a name for the email address. Which cannot contain special characters and must necessarily end with xxxxx@gmail.com, enter a security password, and your date of birth, confirming to finalize the operation. Google allows you to insert security features, for the recovery of credentials in case of loss, such as an answer to a personal question. A telephone number, and an email address of a relative or friend.

The procedure does not change much from mobile devices, both Android and iOS, in fact, you only need to create a Google account following the same procedures, by downloading the Gmail app on your smartphone, iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. In the presence of multiple accounts, such as an email address for work and one for personal needs, it is essential to decide which is the main one, which will be used for authentication with external apps and services.

How to verify a Google account

In some cases it is necessary to verify your Google account, an important operation to always guarantee the highest level of security, avoiding identity theft and illicit acts. To do this, Google could send an email, an SMS, or make an automatic phone call, providing disposable OTP codes, One Time Password, to be entered to authenticate. In this case, the cost depends on your telephone operator, however, there are usually no commissions on receiving SMS and other telephone services.

To check the main email address, on which all the notifications from Google services and verification codes will arrive, just open the web search browser, or the Gmail app on your mobile device, click on the profile picture and select Google Account. At this point, the general profile screen will open, so you have to choose personal information from the left menu, scroll through the data, and check the email address registered under Contact information.

How to manage your Google account

The management of the Google account is carried out from the main screen of the platform. Accessible by clicking or tapping on the image of your profile, present in the search page of the Google Chrome browser, at the top right. Here just select Google Account and enter.

Inside, some key information is immediately provided, on security, privacy settings, use of storage space, and profile customization.

By clicking on Personal Information, from the left menu. It is possible to verify and modify the data previously entered, for example by adding a new photo for the account, changing the access password, replacing the reserve email address, or the number of security phones. By clicking on Data and personalization, still, in the main menu on the left, you can activate and deactivate the various activities.

Google automatically saves any type of activity, however, you can unlink for example your web history, which allows you to receive personalized search results, the list of GPS locations of your devices, voice notes, audio tracks, and YouTube history. To change the status just click on the arrow to the right of the option, moving the selector from On to Off. At the same you can manage the permissions regarding privacy from your Google account, always selecting Data and personalization and clicking on Check settings on the Privacy, Get started now.

For each of the activated features, such as geolocation and saving history, it is possible to open a special window, from which, for example, you can search on the places visited, the web pages viewed and YouTube videos. If necessary, you can disable the features not considered necessary, increasing your privacy. For example, by clicking on Manage location history, you can see where you were on a specific date, thanks to the integration of the account with Google Maps and other GPS services.

Another management option concerns your contacts. By clicking on the item People and sharing, in the left menu of the main screen of the Google account, you can view all the saved contacts, those connected to your personal profile, and the blocked accounts. In the final part of the screen, there are additional features, such as sharing the location or advice on advertisements, including a service that allows you to choose which information to make publicly visible.

How to manage the security of your Google account

Since there are countless services and platforms linked to your personal Google account. It is essential to be cautious and check the safety of your profile. Within the main screen, by clicking on the Security item in the menu on the left, you can manage all the more delicate functions. In the Access to Google section, you can establish permissions. By entering options such as two-step verification or smartphone access. Or change your personal security password.

Below are the verification contacts, which Google will use in case of anomalies. so it is important to check them periodically and keep them updated. Then you can see a complete list with all the accesses made, with detailed data on the device, the place, and the date. While another section shows which third-party apps can access your Google account. For example, you may find that WhatsApp can enter Google Drive. Or that a Microsoft application has free access to the Calendar and Gmail.

By clicking on the item manage third-party app access. You can select a single service and remove the authorization, or simply find more information about it. The last two sections of the security department are extremely interesting. The first concerns how to access other sites, where you can see how many portals the Google account credentials are used. How many passwords have been stored in the profile, and the permissions provided to Google to access other linked accounts.

The other feature is Google’s automatic protection, which blocks apps that are considered less secure. Including websites, while browsing, files to download, and suspicious emails. In this way, it is not possible to use applications and other dangerous services. Which uses vulnerable technologies that could hide viruses and malware. It is strongly recommended to leave this feature always active, avoiding removing the protection. An operation that could irremediably compromise the security of your account.

How to protect your Google account

To increase the protection of the Google account it is important to correctly manage the various features, especially those relating to security and access permissions to personal data. In addition, it is possible to activate the two-step verification service. With which in addition to the password, identification with a device or a security token is requested. To start this procedure just:

  • Enter the Google account and select the Security item
  • Two-step verification
  • It begins

Then you have to choose the second authentication method, between token, SMS, call, or Google message.

Via SMS you will receive a 6-digit OTP code, to be entered to validate the credentials. With the security token, the identification procedure is carried out automatically. While with the Google message just tap on the text authorizing access, a modality slightly less advanced. Otherwise, you can download the Google Authenticator app. This allows you to receive security codes even offline, speeding up the two-step verification.

In any case, it is essential to protect your account, avoid using the same password on other platforms. And regularly check the access of external apps to your sensitive data.

How to find a lost Android device

A particularly interesting service, linked to your Google account. Allows you to locate a lost or stolen Android device, such as a tablet, smartphone. Or Android Wear smartwatch, equipped with an operating system from Android 8.0 to later. To do this, you just need to download the Find my device app from the Google Play Store. Checking in the application settings that all the functions are active, such as geolocation and data connection.

To check the activation of the app just:

  • Touch the gear symbol
  • Enter Security and Location
  • Select the application
  • Choose the option to Locate this device remotely

It is also important to check the location functionality, always entering the settings, tapping on Location, and Activate. In this way, in the event of theft or loss of the device, just go to android.com/find, log in to your Google account, and locate it in real-time.

How to delete and recover a Google account

If you forget your Google account password, or if you accidentally delete your personal profile. It is almost always possible to recover your account. To do this, just consult the official Google guide at support.google.com, select the problem. And follow the procedure for resolution step by step. The procedures are completely automated. So some personal data will be requested, such as the date of birth, the telephone number, a code sent via SMS, or the reserve email address.

Similarly, you can recover a recently deleted account. But don’t wait too long, otherwise, a lot of essential information could be lost. In this case, it would become necessary to create a new Google account. So it’s important to move quickly. On the contrary to eliminate it, for example, because it is no longer used, just:

  • Go to the profile
  • Click on Data and personalization
  • Download or delete your data
  • Choose Delete a service or your account
  • Finalize by selecting Delete your account

To avoid losing important information, you only need to make a download, before finalizing the cancellation of your Google account.

To download the desired data it is necessary:

  • Enter the main profile screen
  • Click on Data and personalization
  • Find the Download or delete your data section
  • Choose Download your data
  • Select the most relevant information by ticking
  • Click on Next

Set the format in which to download the data, saving it on Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, Microsoft OneDrive, or receiving it via email.