Google nudges users on its homepage to set up selfie video sign-in

Google is promoting its selfie video sign-in option directly on the Google homepage. A new nudge asks users to set up a selfie video that can later help them sign in to their Google Account.

Google announced selfie video sign-in in July as an additional way for users to access their accounts if they cannot use their usual sign-in method. Users record a short video of their face from different angles, which Google can later compare with another selfie video to help verify their identity.

The option is not available for every Google Account or in every region. Eligible users can set it up from the Security & sign-in section of their Google Account, according to Google’s Help documentation.

The homepage nudge shows a “Sign in with a selfie” card that says, “Set up a selfie video to sign into your Google account,” and offers “Don’t set up” and “Set up selfie” buttons.

Clicking Set up selfie opens a screen titled “Take a selfie, add a way to sign in.” It asks users to record a short video of their face from different angles.

This introductory screen differs from the one users see when they follow the setup path through their Google Account settings, which says “Protect your account access with a selfie.” The flow then leads to the same consent screen.

That screen explains that Google may review the video with a model to determine whether the person is real and old enough to use certain Google services. It also offers an optional “Improve Google services” setting, which allows Google to use the selfie video and related data to improve facial recognition, age estimation, and other verification methods. Google’s Help page

The homepage nudge provides another entry point to Google’s selfie video sign-in setup, although it is unclear how broadly Google is showing it.