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I use Google's two factor authentication to send my phone text messages with a string of 6 numbers every time I log into a computer that isn't mine. It has worked well so far until today.

Today, I took too long to enter the code, which would be fine normally... except I clicked through faster than I should have and realized shortly after that the "trust this computer" box was checked the second time through. I took a look through the options for my Google account and saw no obvious place to revoke the trust.

This is absolutely not a computer I want trusted for any extended amount of time.

How do I untrust a computer from Google's two-factor authentication?

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2
  • Sad to see no answer that is correct for the current Google Account application.
    – ChrisJJ
    Commented Sep 17, 2018 at 16:48
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    – Code Spy
    Commented Oct 24, 2018 at 6:46

4 Answers 4

Reset to default
12

Clear the browser's cookies (and perhaps cache/history).

'Trust this computer' option doesn’t work

For computers you trust, Google recommends you select the "Trust this computer" option when you are asked for a verification code. When you check this box, you won’t have to enter a code every time you sign in to your account from that computer.

This feature uses a cookie to remember your browser when you sign in. If you’re still being asked to enter a code despite selecting the “Trust this computer” option, this might be because your browser is set to delete cookies after a certain period of time, or is set to delete cookies every time you quit the browser. You may also be manually clearing cookies from your browser. (emphasis added)

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  • 1
    Ahhhh... So it's cookie-based? This is good to know. Thank you!
    – Aeo
    Commented Oct 15, 2012 at 13:27
  • Do you have any references for this? It’s just a gut feeling, but I don’t think it’s just cookie-based.
    – Alex
    Commented Oct 15, 2012 at 13:40
  • @Alex: Proof by experimentation; also, this Google Help page.
    – user1686
    Commented Oct 15, 2012 at 13:47
  • Excellent! Thanks for the updated info.
    – Alex
    Commented Oct 15, 2012 at 13:51
  • 1
    @Aaron, what other method do you suggest of identifying a specific trusted computer?
    – user1686
    Commented Mar 31, 2014 at 19:18
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According to Google Support:

Removing trusted computers from your list

You can remove computers from your set of trusted computers at any time. To do so, sign in to your account and go to your 2-step verification settings page. Under the “Advanced” section, you’ll have the choice to remove the computer you’re using at the time or all other computers. If you choose to remove other computers from your trusted list, those computers will automatically sign out of your account, and you’ll be prompted for a verification code next time you try to sign in from them.

The 2-step verification settings page is at https://google.com/accounts/SmsAuthConfig

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  • I like this option much better as it seems far more secure. It is nice having the ability to unregister devices, but I wonder why a user can't SEE what devices are registered. If some unknown device keeps being added as a "registered device" even after unregistered all of them repeatedly, it would be nice to know about this.
    – Aaron Klap
    Commented Mar 31, 2014 at 18:19
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    This should be the accepted answer. Also useful is this help article: support.google.com/accounts/answer/2544838?hl=en
    – Tim Malone
    Commented Sep 11, 2016 at 3:13
  • This technically should not be the answer either, Tim's comment should be, since Julie's answer gives false directions (there is no "Advanced" section). You cannot remove a specific computer, but rather only ALL. Tim Malone's link confirms this.
    – lobi
    Commented Aug 2, 2017 at 20:05
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Follow these steps:

Account > Security > 2-step Verification Setting > Registered Computers > Require Codes

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2
  • This is the right answer.
    – dessalines
    Commented Jul 31, 2015 at 1:15
  • This also does not work.
    – lobi
    Commented Aug 2, 2017 at 20:02
0

Visit (https://myaccount.google.com/device-activity), it should prompt you to login to your Google Account if you aren't already. Click on "Review Devices" to get the full list and click on an individual device and click "Delete" to log out and remove access from that device.

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