Google 2-Step Verification - International Travel Recommendations

Google 2-step

Overview

This article contains Binghamton University recommendations and instructions to help an individual get past their Google 2-Step Verification in order to log in to a Bmail address when traveling internationally.

If you are planning to travel for an extended period, it's a good idea to contact the ITS Help Desk to discuss Google 2-Step Verification options.

NOTE: If you’d prefer to use Google’s general Gmail instructions to set up your Google 2-Step Verification, please feel free to visit this Google Account Help website.

Common Google 2-Step Verification Concerns for Travelers

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When traveling, much of a person’s Binghamton University work requires access to a Bmail address. This is especially true when traveling internationally.

Travelers may have concerns about how they’ll get past their Bmail’s Google 2-Step Verification while they’re located in another country, and ITS would like to help provide solutions for these concerns.

Some of the most common Google 2-Step Verification concerns (among others) for would-be travelers usually are:

What if my smartphone can’t connect to the internet at my destination?

A lack of internet access would very likely impact a person’s ability to receive Google 2-Step Verification prompts, like the example below.
What if I misplace my phone, it breaks, or doesn’t have cellular service at my destination?

While traveling, it’s certainly possible that a phone may not be able to receive phone calls or text messages with a Google 2-Step Verification code (like the example below).

These concerns, along with any number of others, are completely valid.

In the next section of this page, we’ll provide some actions a person can take to proactively address some of the more common potential Google 2-Step Verification issues before their trip.

Actions to Take Before Traveling to Avoid Issues

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There are various actions an individual can take prior to traveling in order to avoid possible Google 2-Step Verification issues.

We’ll cover the most recommended option – generating printable backup codes – that should help with the majority of people’s Google 2-Step Verification configurations, but we’ll also reference a couple of other options.

If you’d like to explore more Google 2-Step Verification options beyond what we illustrate on this instructional page, please feel free to review the below Google Account Help website’s, “Use other verification methods” section:
https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/185839

Generate Printable Backup Codes

Any Binghamton University Bmail user can create a set of 10 printable Google 2-Step Verification codes for their Bmail address that they can have on-hand in hard copy.

Generating, and printing, backup codes before traveling is likely the most reliable way to ensure you can get past Bmail’s Google 2-Step Verification while you’re abroad.

IMPORTANT: Each individual backup code is valid for one use. If a person generates another set of codes, that new set will expire all previously unused printable backup codes.

NOTE: It’s best to take the below steps from a computer if possible, though you can review and add Google 2-Step Verification options/devices from within various Google-based apps or programs as well.]

From a computer (if possible), visit the Bmail website at, http://bmail.binghamton.edu, and log in with your Bmail address credentials if prompted

Your password for your Bmail address should be the same password that you use to log in to other Binghamton University websites (i.e. my.binghamton.edu, BU Brain, etc...). If you’d like help with your password, please contact the ITS Help Desk.

If this is the first time you are logging in to your Bmail address, Google might prompt you to set up address recovery options, and provide a tutorial about using the address.
Once you’ve logged in, towards the upper-right corner of the page, click the Binghamton University logo

NOTE: If you don’t see that Binghamton University logo, then you might be logged in to a personal Gmail address. Instructions for logging out of a personal Gmail account are provided by Google at this link. Afterwards, please restart these instructions from the top.

This should open a drop-down list.
Click “Manage your Google Account”

This should open a new tab/window in your web browser.
Along the left side of the page, click “Security”

This should open some settings along the right side of the page.
Scroll down to the section for “Signing in to Google,” and look for the “2-Step Verification” option
Click anywhere on that 2-Step Verification line
If prompted, sign in with your Bmail password and click “Next”
Scroll down to the section for “Backup codes,” and click the icon of a small right-pointing arrow
If prompted, sign in with your Bmail password and click “Next”

This should open the backup codes request area.
Click the button to, “Get backup codes”

This displays your 10 backup codes.
Click either “Print codes” or “Download codes” (or both) depending on what you’d like to do with your codes.

It’s recommended to print the codes right away and put the printout in a safe, accessible location.

WARNING: Before you use your last backup code, be sure to print another set of backup codes.

NOTE: Not only will the printed codes allow you to log in to your Bmail address, but they’ll also let you access your Bmail’s Google 2-Step Verification settings in case you’d like to add another device to your account when you arrive at your destination – such as a phone you might purchase while abroad.

Instructions for adding a new Google 2-Step Verification device to a Bmail address are located at this Binghamton University website.
When you return from your trip, if you haven’t used all of your backup codes, you can either hold on to those codes in a secure location for later use, or you can delete the entire set of backup codes.

If you’d like to delete the backup codes, go back through steps 1 – 9 above, and when you get to a point where you see your current backup codes, click the icon of a trash can and confirm that you’d like to delete those codes.

Additional Option

If you’d like to consider something beyond generating printable backup codes, Google offers various options that we’ll mention, though we won’t cover them in-depth on this page.

If you’d like to explore other Google 2-Step Verification options beyond what we illustrate on this page, please feel free to review the below Google Account Help website’s, “Use other verification methods” section:
https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/185839

Add a device that you know will work in your destination to your Google 2-Step Verification account

If you have a device that you'll use in your destination, you can add that device to your Google 2-Step Verification account before your trip.

You can also add a device after you arrive, such as a smartphone you might purchase while abroad – you would probably need to print backup codes prior to your trip though.

Instructions for adding a new Google 2-Step Verification device to a Bmail address are located at this Binghamton University website.

If you would like assistance, please feel free to contact the Binghamton University ITS Help Desk at 607-777-6420 or Submit a Request, and we'll be happy to help.

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Article ID: 837

Created

Mon 9/26/22 2:11 PM

Modified

Tue 9/27/22 10:35 AM

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Google 2-Step Verification - International Travel Recommendations

Overview

Common Google 2-Step Verification Concerns for Travelers

Actions to Take Before Traveling to Avoid Issues

Details

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