Signing in with Google

You can skip passwords entirely and use your Google account. The same button signs you up the first time and logs you in every time after that.

Where is the Google button?

• On the Log in page it says Continue with Google.
• On the Create account page it says Sign up with Google.

Both buttons do exactly the same thing. If an account already exists for your Google login, you are signed in. If not, a new account is created. You can use either page.

How do I sign in with Google?

1. Click Continue with Google (or Sign up with Google). The button changes to "Opening Google…".
2. Google opens and asks you to choose an account, or confirms the one you are already signed in to.
3. Google sends you back to Underground Aquarium and you are signed in.
4. You land on the page you were trying to reach, or on the Feed if you came straight to the Log in page.

The very first time, you stop at the Welcome page on the way (see the next section).

What happens the first time I use Google?

New Google accounts land on a Welcome page before going on. It greets you by your first name from Google (for example "Welcome, Sam") and asks you to:

1. Pick your Username. We fill in a suggestion you can keep or change. Usernames are 3 to 24 letters, numbers or underscores.
2. Tick "I confirm I am 18 or older and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy."
3. Click Continue. The button stays greyed out until the box is ticked.

After that you go on to the page you were headed to. You won't see the Welcome page again. Full details are in Choosing a username and the Welcome page.

Do I need to confirm my email if I use Google?

No. Google has already verified your address, so there is no confirmation email to click. Confirmation emails are only for accounts created with an email and password. See Confirming your email.

Do I need a password if I use Google?

No. Just click Continue with Google each time you log in.

If you would also like to be able to log in with your email and a password (for example on a shared computer where you don't want to sign in to Google), sign in with Google first, then go to Password in your account settings and set one. It must be at least 8 characters. From then on you can use either method. See Signing in and passwords.

I signed up with email before. Can I use Google now?

Usually, yes. If your Google account uses the same email address as your existing Underground Aquarium account, clicking Continue with Google normally signs you in to that same account, and your username, posts and listings are all there.

If you instead find yourself on a Welcome page asking for a username, you are probably in a new, separate account (for example because your Google email is different). Don't finish setting it up. Sign out and log in with your email and password instead, or email support@undergroundaquarium.com if you are unsure which account is which.

Which email does my account use with Google?

The email on your Google account. That is where we send notifications and emails. It is shown under your name on your Dashboard and at the top of Account & data ("Signed in as ..."). If you have several Google accounts, make sure you pick the same one each time, or you may create a second account.

Is it safe to sign in with Google?

We receive basic details from Google, such as your name and email address, so we can create your account and greet you by name. We never see your Google password. You can read more in our Privacy Policy and in Privacy and your data.

Can I switch Google accounts?

Sign out of Underground Aquarium first (Sign out in your profile menu on a computer, or Me then Sign out on a phone). Then click Continue with Google and choose the other Google account when Google asks.

Common problems

I clicked Continue with Google and nothing happened, or I saw an error under the button. An error message appears in red under the button if Google sign in couldn't start. Refresh the page and try again. Pop-up or tracker blockers and strict privacy extensions can interfere, so try turning them off for our site or use a different browser.

Google sent me back to the Log in page instead of signing me in. The sign in didn't complete, often because the page sat open too long, you pressed Back during the Google step, or you started in one browser and finished in another. Click Continue with Google again from the same browser.

I keep getting the Welcome page. You haven't finished it yet. Pick a username, tick the 18+ box and click Continue. If you leave without finishing, it appears again next time you sign in with Google.

"That username is taken. Try another." Someone already has that username. Add a number or underscore, or pick something else, and click Continue again.

"Please log in again." Your sign in expired while the Welcome page was open. Go to Log in, click Continue with Google again, and finish the Welcome page.

I signed in with Google and ended up with a second account. This happens when your Google email is different from the one you registered with. Sign out and log in to your original account with its email and password. If you want the extra account removed, email support@undergroundaquarium.com with both usernames.

I can't log in with Google on a shared or work computer. Some workplaces block Google sign in. Set a password first (see above) so you can log in with email and password instead.