How To Use Two-step Verification With Your Microsoft Account

Related topics × Account security tools Keep your account secure

• Keep your account secure
• Block an email address from signing in
• Recent activity page
• Unusual sign-in activity
• Emails from Microsoft
• Texts from Microsoft
• Using a public computer
• Sign out everywhere
• What is multi-factor authentication?
• 2-step verification
• Go passwordless
• Report technical support scams

Passkeys

• Signing in with a passkey
• Passkeys for Windows
• Passkeys for IT admins
• Troubleshoot signing in with a passkey

Use your mobile to sign in

• Sign in using Outlook

Microsoft Authenticator

• About
• Download
• Add accounts
• How to sign in
• Sign out or remove accounts
• Import passwords
• Export passwords
• Back up accounts
• Restore accounts
• FAQs
• Troubleshooting
• Authentication did not complete
• Entra authentication for IT admins

Manage your Microsoft account

• Manage your Microsoft account

Skip to main content Sign in with Microsoft Sign in or create an account. Hello, Select a different account. You have multiple accounts Choose the account you want to sign in with. Related topics Account security tools Keep your account secure

• Keep your account secure
• Block an email address from signing in
• Recent activity page
• Unusual sign-in activity
• Emails from Microsoft
• Texts from Microsoft
• Using a public computer
• Sign out everywhere
• What is multi-factor authentication?
• 2-step verification
• Go passwordless
• Report technical support scams

Passkeys

• Signing in with a passkey
• Passkeys for Windows
• Passkeys for IT admins
• Troubleshoot signing in with a passkey

Use your mobile to sign in

• Sign in using Outlook

Microsoft Authenticator

• About
• Download
• Add accounts
• How to sign in
• Sign out or remove accounts
• Import passwords
• Export passwords
• Back up accounts
• Restore accounts
• FAQs
• Troubleshooting
• Authentication did not complete
• Entra authentication for IT admins

Manage your Microsoft account

• Manage your Microsoft account

Applies ToMicrosoft account

To increase the security of your account, you can require two steps to sign in.

How to turn two-step verification on or off for your Microsoft account

1. Sign in to your Microsoft account Security tab at account.microsoft.com/security ​​​​​​​Sign in

2. Select Manage how I sign in ​​​​​​​to show the ways to prove who you are.

3. Under Additional security and Two-step verification choose Turn on or Turn off.

4. Follow the instructions shown on the screen.

   Note: As part of setting up this account, you'll be given a QR code to scan with your device; this is one way we ensure you are in physical possession of the device you are installing the Authenticator app to.

About two-step verification and authentication for Microsoft accounts

What is two-step verification in Microsoft accounts?

Two-step verification (sometimes called multi-factor authentication) 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.

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, your password alone 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 have three pieces of security info associated with your account, just in case.

What happens when you enable two-step verification for your Microsoft account?

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 two-step verification is turned off, you will only have to verify your identity with security codes periodically, when there might be a risk to your account security.

What you’ll need to set up two-step verification for your Microsoft account

Two-step verification begins with an email address (we recommend two different email addresses, the one you normally use, and one as a backup just in case), a phone number, or any authenticator app. When you sign in on a new device or from a new location, we'll send you a security code to enter on the sign-in page. Learn how you can use the Microsoft Authenticator appor authenticate using Outlook for Android.

Learn more

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 we have two ways to contact you, like one of the alternate contact email addresses or phone numbers that you used when you turned on two-step verification.

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.

To reset your password, follow the steps in How to reset your Microsoft account password. Instead of receiving one security code to verify your identity, though, you'll receive two.

If you're looking for info about changing, removing, or updating the alternate email address or phone number where you get security codes, follow the steps in either Security info & verification codes or Replace your Microsoft account security info.

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.

Read about how to create and use app passwords in App passwords and two-step verification.

Go passwordless

Did you know you can increase the security of your account by removing your password and signing in with a passwordless method instead? Learn how to go passwordless with your Microsoft Account.

Need more help?

Can't sign in?

​​​​​​​If you can't sign into your Microsoft account, most issues can be identified by our sign-in helper tool.Sign-in helper

​​​​​​​Contact Support

For technical support, go to Contact Microsoft Support, enter your problem and select Get Help. If you still need help, select Contact Support to be routed to the best support option.

Important: To protect your account and its contents, our support agents are not allowed to send password reset links, or access and change account details.

SUBSCRIBE RSS FEEDS

Need more help?

Want more options?

DiscoverCommunityContact Us

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Microsoft 365 subscription benefits

Microsoft 365 training

Microsoft security

Accessibility center

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.

Ask the Microsoft Community

Microsoft Tech Community

Windows Insiders

Microsoft 365 Insiders

Find solutions to common problems or get help from a support agent.

Online support

Was this information helpful?

Yes No Thank you! Any more feedback for Microsoft? Can you help us improve? (Send feedback to Microsoft so we can help.) What affected your experience? Resolved my issue Clear instructions Easy to follow No jargon Pictures helped Other Didn't match my screen Incorrect instructions Too technical Not enough information Not enough pictures Other Any additional feedback? (Optional) Submit feedback By pressing submit, your feedback will be used to improve Microsoft products and services. Your IT admin will be able to collect this data. Privacy Statement.

Thank you for your feedback!

×