How to Turn On or Off Two-step Verification for your Microsoft Account
Two-step verification uses two ways to verify your identity whenever you sign in to your Microsoft account:
- Your password
- An extra security code
Two-step verification helps protect your account by making it more difficult for a hacker to sign in, even if they've somehow learned your password. If you turn on two-step verification, you'll see an extra page every time you sign in on a device that isn't trusted. The extra page prompts you to enter a security code to sign in. We can send a new security code to your phone or your alternate email address, or you can obtain one through the Microsoft Authenticator app on your smartphone.
If you turn off two-step verification, you won't be prompted for a security code when you sign in to your Microsoft account on a device that isn't trusted.
For more information, see:
- Set up an authenticator app as a two-step verification method | Microsoft Support
- How to use two-step verification with your Microsoft account | Microsoft account support
- Using app passwords with apps that don't support two-step verification | Microsoft account support
- Microsoft Account Gets More Secure - The Official Microsoft Blog
This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off two-step verification protection for your Microsoft account.
Some apps (like the mail apps on some smartphones) or devices (like the Xbox 360, for example) can't prompt you to enter a security code when you try to sign in. If you get an incorrect password error with an app or device, you'll need to create a unique app password to sign in. Once you've signed in with your app password, you're all set to use that app or device.
You will need to create and sign in with a different app password for each app or device that can't prompt you for a security code.
For how, see: Create or Remove App Passwords in your Microsoft Account when Two-Step Verification is Turned On
Contents
- Option One: To Turn On Two-step Verification for your Microsoft Account
- Option Two: To Turn Off Two-step Verification for your Microsoft Account
1 Go to your Microsoft account security page online at Microsoft, and sign in to verify.
2 Click/tap on the Advanced security options option. (see screenshot below)
3 Click/tap on the Turn on link under the Two-step verification section. (see screenshot below)
4 Click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)
5 Do step 6 (password) or step 7 (passwordless with Microsoft Authenticator) below for how you want to use Two-step verification with your Microsoft account.
A) Click/tap on Get now. (see screenshot below)
B) Install the Microsoft Authenticator on your Android or iOS phone, and sign in to the app with your Microsoft account. When finished setting up the app on your phone, click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)
C) Click/tap on Finish, and go to step 8. (see screenshot below)
8 Follow any steps that apply to you in the screenshot below, and click/tap on Next.
9 Click/tap on Finish. (see screenshot below)
1 Go to your Microsoft account security page online at Microsoft, and sign in to verify.
2 Click/tap on the Advanced security options option. (see screenshot below)
3 Click/tap on the Turn off link under the Two-step verification section. (see screenshot below)
4 Click/tap on Yes to confirm. (see screenshot below)
That's it,
Shawn Brink
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- How to Enable or Disable Password Expiration for Your Microsoft Account
- Add or Remove Trusted Devices Associated with your Microsoft Account in Windows 10