Recovery codes may provide access when the normal second sign-in factor is unavailable. They are therefore neither ordinary notes nor a decorative part of account setup. A code needs to be retrievable in an emergency while remaining protected from unauthorized access. Suitable storage depends on the issuing service and the other recovery methods already configured.
Check what the codes do
Read what the codes authorize and whether each can be used only once. Google describes its backup codes as an alternative for the second sign-in step. Other services may use different rules. Identify the service and account without unnecessarily placing the password in the same exposed note.
When generating a replacement set, check which previous codes become invalid. Clearly mark or remove superseded printouts and files. Several unlabeled lists of similar numbers create confusion during an emergency and may make a valid recovery process appear broken.
Choose an independent storage location
A screenshot on the only phone does not help if that phone is lost. Protected storage in a password manager can be appropriate if access to the manager does not itself depend exclusively on the missing device. A securely stored printout is another option; leaving it exposed at the desk is not.
Consider shared failures. Phone, laptop, and a paper note in the same bag can disappear together. The goal is an accessible fallback without the same weakness as the primary route. For jointly managed accounts, establish which authorized person may use it.
Update the record after use
Mark used one-time codes so they are not presented as available again. If exposure is suspected, use the official account settings to replace the set where supported. Do not give codes to callers or message senders claiming to perform an account check.
An occasional controlled test can validate the recovery route, but it may consume a code. Record the result and update storage. The aim is not to create as many copies as possible. It is to maintain a few known, protected locations containing current information.