Signing In to Your Tangaza School Email

Part A - On your Phone (Gmail app)

1. Open Gmail. On a phone with no account, tap Add an email address. If you already use a personal Gmail, tap your profile picture, then add another account.
2. Choose Google. Not Exchange, not Other your school account is a Google Workspace account.
3. Enter your full address and tap Next. No slashes, no spaces, no capital letters.
4. Type the temporary password August@2025. Tick Show password to check for typing mistakes, then tap Next.
5. Tap I agree on the Terms of Service page. You only see this the first time.
6. Set your own password. Google requires this on first sign-in: at least 12 characters with upper case, lower case, a number and a symbol. Do not reuse the temporary one.
7. Your inbox opens. Drive, Docs and Classroom now use the same account. Switch accounts from your profile picture and check the address at the top before sending mail.

Turn on 2-Step Verification (do this now, on your phone)

This stops anyone signing in as you even if they learn your password. It takes about two minutes.

1. In the Gmail app, tap your profile picture at the top right.
2. Tap Manage your Google Account. Check the address on the screen is your @tangaza.ac.ke one, not a personal Gmail.
3. Tap Security. If you cannot see it, swipe the row of menu words sideways.
4. Scroll to How you sign in to Google and tap 2-Step Verification.
5. Tap Get started. Type your password again if Google asks.
6. Google will offer Google prompts — a "Yes, it's me" message sent to this phone. Accept it.
7. Add your own mobile number as a backup method and choose Text message. Use your number, never a friend's.
8. Tap Turn on.

Now get your backup codes — do not skip this

1. On the same 2-Step Verification screen, scroll down and tap Backup codes.
2. Tap Get backup codes.
3. You will see ten 8-digit codes. Screenshot them or write them down and keep them somewhere safe that is not your phone.

Each code works once. They are how you get into your account if your phone is lost, stolen, or has no network.

If your data is often off: also add Google Authenticator from the same screen. It makes codes without any internet or airtime, which is the most reliable option on a phone with patchy data.

Never read a verification code to anyone. Not to a classmate, not to someone claiming to be from ICT, not to anyone on the phone. The University will never ask you for a code.

Part B - On your Laptop/Desktop

1. Go to https://mail.google.com/a/tangaza.ac.ke. If someone else's account is showing, click the profile picture and choose Sign out or add another account.
2. Enter your address and password, clicking Next after each.
3. Google will prompt you to change your password immediately after this first sign-in. Set a new password following the same rules as above (at least 12 characters with upper case, lower case, a number and a symbol) and do not reuse the temporary one.
4. On a shared or library computer, always click Sign out when you finish, and never save the password.

Turn on 2-Step Verification (on a computer)

If you already did this on your phone, you do not need to do it again — it protects the whole account, not one device.

1. Go to myaccount.google.com and make sure you are signed in with your @tangaza.ac.ke address. Check the profile picture at the top right.
2. Click Security in the menu on the left.
3. Under How you sign in to Google, click 2-Step Verification.
4. Click Get started and type your password again.
5. Choose how you want to confirm it is you:
   • Google prompt — a message on your phone. Easiest if your phone has data.
   • Authenticator app — codes that work with no internet. Best if your data is often off.
   • Text message — a code by SMS. Needs network coverage.
6. Follow the steps on screen, then click Turn on.

Save your backup codes

1. Back on the 2-Step Verification page, find Backup codes.
2. Click Get backup codes, then download or print them.
3. Keep them somewhere safe. Do not save them only on the laptop you use to sign in.

Changing your phone soon? Set up backup codes or the Authenticator app before you swap SIM cards or hand over the old phone. Students who change phone with only SMS set up are the ones who end up locked out.

Part C - Secure your Account on Day One

Tap your profile picture, then Manage your Google Account, then Security:

• Turn on 2-Step Verification and add your own mobile number, so the code comes to you.
• Add a recovery phone and recovery email this is how you get back in if you forget your password.
• Check recent sign-in activity. If a device or country is not yours, change your password and tell ICT immediately.

If Something Goes Wrong