Quicker sign in with Google

Whether you're creating a new account or signing in to an existing one, the option to Sign in with Google is there, ready to use. This is a guide on how this process works, what it means for your privacy, and how to stay in full control of your account — including how to switch back to a traditional email/password login.

Koofr. Easy to use, secure, and reliable.

Why Bother with Google Sign-In?

Before we get into the how, let's talk about the why.

The problem with passwords is not just forgetting them - it's everything around them. Creating a new account means choosing a password, confirming it, verifying your email, and hoping you'll remember it next time. Most people end up reusing the same password across multiple services, which is one of the most common causes of account breaches.

Read our blog post: Strong passwords and how to remember them

Google Sign-In cuts through all of that. Because you're already authenticated with Google, Koofr can verify your identity without asking you to type anything. The result is:

• Speed: Get to your files in seconds.
• Simplicity: No new password to create, store, or forget.
• Security: You rely on Google's own authentication infrastructure, including any 2FA you've already set up on your Google account.

How to Sign In to Koofr with Google

If you don't have a Koofr account yet

Getting started is straightforward:

• Go to the Koofr sign-up page.
• Click "Sign up with Google".
• Select your Google account and grant Koofr access to your basic profile information (name and email address).
• That's it — your Koofr account is created, and you're signed in.

If your Google email address is already verified, there's no additional email confirmation step. You can start uploading your files.

If you already have a Koofr account

If your existing Koofr account uses the same email address as your Google account, you can easily connect Google Sign-In to it:

• Go to the Koofr login page.
• Click "Sign in with Google".
• Select your Google account.
• Koofr will recognise your email address and ask for your Koofr password to confirm the connection.
• Once confirmed, your accounts are linked, and you can use Google Sign-In going forward.

Security note: If you have enabled Two-Factor Authentication for your Koofr account, Sign In with Google will still require your second factor. Your security settings are always respected.

What Information Does Koofr See?

This is a fair question, and the answer is reassuring: very little.

When you use Google Sign-In, Koofr receives only the basic Google profile information you explicitly authorise — your name and email address. This is used solely to set up or identify your Koofr account.

Koofr does not receive access to your Google Drive, Gmail, contacts, or anything else. Your Google account remains entirely separate. Koofr's privacy-first approach means your data is never used for profiling, advertising, or tracking, regardless of how you sign in.

Think of it as using your Google account as an identity token, not as a data source.

With Koofr You're Always in Control

One of the most important things to understand about Google Sign-In in Koofr is that it doesn't lock you in.

You can use both Google Sign-In and a password

After signing in with Google, you can navigate to your account Preferences → Password and set up a traditional password for logging in.

This gives you two ways to log in:

• Via Sign-In with Google (fast, no typing required)
• Via email and password (useful on shared computers or devices where you don't want to use your Google account)

This is particularly handy if you occasionally need to log in from a public or unfamiliar device. You can use a temporary password on that device and change it afterwards from your Koofr Settings.

You can switch away from Google Sign-In entirely

If you ever stop using Gmail, switch to a different email provider, or simply prefer not to use Google Sign-In, you can unlink it. Here's how:

• First, make sure you have a password set up for your Koofr account (Preferences → Password). This ensures you won't lose access when Google Sign-In is removed.
• Go to Preferences → Security.
• Under Services, find Sign In with Google and click the Revoke Access (−) button.

Once revoked, your account continues to work normally, you simply sign in with your email and password instead.

For more details, see the Koofr Help pages: How can I unlink the Sign In with Google option?

Changing your email address after signing up with Google

If you created your Koofr account via Google and later want to use a different email address, the process is also straightforward:

• Set a password for your account (Preferences → Password).
• Go to Preferences → Security → Services and revoke Google Sign-In.
• Then follow the steps to change your Koofr email address.

This means you're never stuck. You can evolve how you manage your account as your situation changes.

The Bigger Picture: Passwordless Access and Better Habits

Google Sign-In is part of a broader shift in how we approach online security. The era of relying on a single password per service is fading. Not because passwords have disappeared, but because there are now better options available.

Passwordless and federated sign-in methods (like Sign In with Google) offer real advantages:

• You don't create a weak password out of convenience.
• You don't reuse a password from another account.
• You benefit from Google's existing security infrastructure, including any 2FA already protecting your Google account.

At the same time, Koofr ensures you're never fully dependent on a single provider. You can combine Google Sign-In with a Koofr password, add two-factor authentication, and adjust everything from your account settings at any time.

Read more about How Two-Factor Authentication Improves Your Online Security

The goal is a login experience that's both frictionless and secure — and with a bit of setup, Koofr makes that entirely achievable.

Koofr. Efficient and secure cloud storage.

A note on the URL: This page lives at a URL that once mentioned Twitter. For a time, Koofr did offer Sign In with Twitter (now X) as a login option. That option is no longer available, but the Google sign-in remains.

Editor's Note: This post was first published in 2015. We've updated and enhanced the content to improve clarity and detail. Whether you're revisiting or reading it for the first time, we hope this improved version offers an even better experience.

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