How to enable 2FA on Xbox

Xbox has the ability to require two-factor authentication or 2FA when you sign in with your Microsoft account. While a complex and unique password might seem like it will suffice, having another layer of security on your Xbox is a smart idea. You don’t want people to get ahold of your account with potentially thousands of dollars of games on there. Fortunately, the process to set it up is easy.

Step 1: Understand how Xbox 2FA works

The best way to think about Xbox 2FA is to imagine two padlocks on a door, except one requires a unique code that is sent to your phone or email account. If someone tries to get into that door — or in this case, your Xbox account — they need to have access to that unique code. Basically, your password is only the first step. Whenever you log in, however, you’ll need that code. Thankfully, you can set your Xbox to be a trusted device so that you only need to put it in once.

Step 2: Log into the Microsoft website

Unfortunately, Xbox owners can’t enable 2FA through the console interface itself. Instead, you need to do this on the Microsoft website. Xbox users without access to an internet browser on their phone or computer can use the Microsoft Edge app on the console too. From there, visit the Microsoft account security pageand sign into your Xbox account with your email address and password.

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On the Security page, you need to click into Advanced security options. Scroll down to Two-step verification and turn it on. The next page will inform you about how 2FA works, and then the following page will explain how this applies to your Outlook account. The third page might force you to add another option for Microsoft to verify your identity. This could be an alternate email address, phone number, the Microsoft Authenticator app, or a different authenticator app. Whichever one you do, you’ll be asked to run through a short process to tie it to your account.

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Step 3: Save the recovery code

This step is simple, but no less important. When you have 2FA set up, you have locked your account to a secondary form of authentication. That means that if you lose that secondary form of authentication for whatever reason, you'll need the code that Microsoft shows you at the end of the setup process to verify it’s still you. You should save this code somewhere secure just in case. Without it, the process of getting your account back will be a lot harder.

Step 4: Sign into your Xbox

With 2FA enabled, you can sign into your Xbox knowing you have a strong layer of security that reaches far beyond your password. The process is mostly the same as usual. The Xbox will prompt you to use your email address and password, and then it will ask you to submit a code from one of the 2FA methods you set up. You can also set the Xbox up as a trusted device, which means you don’t need to do this process every time you log in.

Xbox 2FA might seem a bit tedious at first, but it’s a tiny annoyance compared to the disaster that could await you if someone were to get into your account. All you need is to have your phone or email ready whenever you sign into a new device. You can finally take solace in the fact that your games and information are secured.