Google has a special series of screens to authenticate you as an account holder and these screens are not always very well designed in the context of the Mac interface.

Account Recovery

If your Mac prompts you to reenter your password for a Google account due to a recent change and you indicate you forgot it, Google may first ask you for the last password you remember.

Many services store some passwords you’ve used before to help verify your identity during the reset process (or to inform you that you can’t reuse a recent password when creating a new one).

Verification Code

Then, Google may offer to send you a verification code. A quick read might suggest that Google has already sent a text message to your phone number. After all, “Standard rates apply” refers to text messaging fees.

However, you will find that no message ever arrives. And you will wonder why.

Scroll Down

You must actually scroll down so you can tell Google how you want to receive the verification code. Then, you will receive and enter it, and get to set your new password.

For better or for worse, the default Mac interface since 2011 makes scroll bars only visible when scrolling. Therefore, without trying to scroll, you don’t always know whether there’s any content below. (If you prefer, you can change the scroll bar setting in System Preferences > General.)

Moral of the story: Feel free to explore what is present and discover what may be hidden.