Gmail gets a great new feature. It will make copying two-factor authentication codes easier

Android has been able to copy SMS codes with a single tap for years – but for email verification codes, until recently, it meant opening the message and manually finding the number within it. Gmail is now eliminating this step and will offer a button directly in the mail list that allows you to copy the code without even opening the email.

How does the new button work?

When you receive an email with a one-time code, Gmail will now automatically recognize it and display an oval “Copy code” button right below the subject of the message – in the same strip where it otherwise shows attachment previews. One tap is all it takes, and the digits go straight to your clipboard, from where you can paste them into the app or website that requires them as part of the verification process. This eliminates the need to open the message and manually select the digits. The same button will also appear inside an opened email, right above its content, so you don’t have to hunt for the code among other tons of text.

The 9to5Google server was among the first to report the new feature, but it has already appeared in my Gmail on a Pixel 9 Pro XL.

Gmail can handle codes from e-shops and banks

According to initial reports, the button appears for verification emails from various senders – from online stores to banks. These one-time codes now secure a large part of account logins, so even a few saved taps add up.

Gmail gets a great new feature. It will make copying two-factor authentication codes easier Adam Kurfürst News Adam Kurfürst News

However, it’s not one hundred percent reliable: whether Gmail finds the code in the message depends on how the sender formatted it. Numbers hidden among other data or written in an unusual format may not trigger the button. In the vast majority of cases, however, it will appear and save a few taps.

Feature currently missing in notifications and web version

As foreign websites report, the button is not yet shown in the notification bar, so the code still cannot be copied directly from an expanded notification. Furthermore, the new feature is also missing from the web version of Gmail.

As usual, Google is rolling out the feature gradually, so if you don’t see the button yet, wait a few days and make sure you have Gmail updates installed.

Will you use the button for copying verification codes in Gmail?

Sources: 9to5Google, Android Police