About two-step verification
Applies to: Microsoft account
Two-step verification helps protect you by making it more difficult for someone else to sign in to your Microsoft account. It uses two different forms of identity: your password, and a contact method (also known as security info). Even if someone else finds your password, they’ll be stopped if they don’t have access to your security info. This is also why it’s important to use different passwords for all your accounts.
You set up two-step verification with an email address, phone number, or authenticator app. When you sign in on a new device or from a new location, you will be sent security code to enter on the sign-in page.
If you turn on two-step verification, you’ll get a security code to your email, phone, or authenticator app every time you sign in on a device that isn’t trusted. When it’s turned off, you will only have to verify your identity with security codes periodically, when there might be a risk to your account security.
Important!
If you turn on two-step verification, you will always need two forms of identification. This means that if you forget your password, you need two contact methods. Or if you lose your contact method, just your password won’t get you back into your account – and it can take you 30 days to regain access. You may even lose access to the account. For that reason, we strongly recommend you keep three pieces of security info on your account, just in case.
Turn two-step verification on or off
- Go to the Security basics page and sign in with your Microsoft account.
- Select more security options.
- Under Two-step verification, choose Set up two-step verification to turn it on, or choose Turn off two-step verification to turn it off.
- Follow the instructions.
Where you can’t use security codes, use app passwords
Some apps (like the mail apps on some phones) or devices (like the Xbox 360) can’t use regular security codes. If you see an “incorrect password” error on an app or device after you turn on two-step verification, but you’re sure your password was correct, that means you’ll need an app password for that app or device.
App passwords are only available if you use two-step verification. If you don’t have two-step verification turned on, you won’t see the App passwords section on the Additional security options page.
Reset your password when two-step verification is turned on
If you forget your password when you have two-step verification turned on for your account, you can reset your password as long as you have two forms of identification. Depending on what security info you have added to your account, this requirement might mean entering a security code from your authenticator app and entering a security code that was emailed to your backup email account.
