Account recovery checklist before an international trip

Make a short account inventory

List the accounts you would need within the first day of a trip: main email, airline, hotel, payment card, maps account and eSIM provider. For each, write down which sign-in factor it may demand on a new device or after an app update. Some services keep you signed in for months, which can hide a dependence on an old phone number until you lose the device. Check the recovery email and phone details while both are still accessible.

Create recovery outside the traveling phone

Google recommends backup codes, another signed-in device, security keys and up-to-date recovery information for two-step verification. Other services may offer similar options, but their rules differ. Generate backup codes only within the official account settings. Store them in a secure place that does not disappear with the traveling phone, and do not send them to a public chat or support impostor. If you use a password manager, confirm you can unlock it on another trusted device.

A new travel eSIM often provides data without replacing your home number. If you plan to disable the home line, identify every account that might send it an SMS or call. Change the factor only through the account's official settings and test the replacement before departure. An authenticator app can create codes offline after setup, yet losing the phone still removes that source unless the app's recovery or sync feature was enabled and tested.

Know what to do after a loss

If a phone is lost, use a trusted second device to secure email and payment accounts first, then contact the carrier and eSIM provider about the line. Sign out or remove the missing device from key accounts using their official controls. Avoid making urgent account changes over a random public terminal. Save the order reference and emergency contacts offline so you can reach support even when you cannot open the provider app. Recovery preparation is most valuable when it reduces the number of problems that depend on the missing phone.