How Two-step Verification for Microsoft Account Works:
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. It uses two ways to verify your identity whenever you sign in to your Microsoft account: your Microsoft account password and an extra security code. 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.
Actually, it's pretty simple to turn on or off two-step verification for Microsoft account.
How to Turn On Two-step Verification for Microsoft Account?
Go through the following steps to set up two-step verification for Microsoft account in your Windows 8.1/8.
1. Sign in to your Microsoft account that you want to turn on two-step verification for.
2. If this PC or device is not a trusted device, then you will be prompted to enter and submit a security code sent to your phone or alternate email address.
3. You will first need to unlink all Microsoft accounts that are currently linked to the Microsoft account that you want to turn on two-step verification for.
Note: If you do not unlink the accounts, then you will get a "Can't turn on two-step verification message" below when you try to turn on two-step verification instead.
4. Go to the Microsoft account Security info overview webpage.
5. Under the Two-step verification section, click/tap on Set up two-step verification.
6. Click/tap on Next.
Here you can choose from three different options to receive your first or second verification code:
Option 1: To Use your Alternate Email Address to Receive Code
A. Select Alternate email address, type in an email address, and click/tap on Next.
B. Click the inbox of this email address for a message from the Microsoft account team, enter the code, and click/tap on Next.
Option 2: To Use a Phone Number to Receive Code
A. Select Phone number, select your location, enter your phone number, select to get the code with a text message or automated call, and click/tap on Next.
B. Enter the code from the text or call, click/tap on Next.
Option 3: To Use Authenticator App on Smart Phone or Device to Receive Code
A. Select Authenticator app and install it on the device. Note that different types of phone (iOS, Android, Blackberry) have different app stores for an "authenticator app". iOS, Android and Blackberry can get Google Authenticator, while Windows phone can get Microsoft's authenticator app.
B. Open the authenticator app, and scan the bar code in the left screenshot.
C. The authenticator app will now generate a code. Enter this code, click/tap on Next.
Thus, you have just learnt to enable two-step verification for Microsoft account.
How to Turn Off Two-step Verification for Microsoft Account?
For any reasons, you might want to disable two-step verification for Microsoft account. But how? No worries. Learn the easy steps to achieve your goal.
1. Sign in to your Microsoft account.
2. If this PC or device is not a trusted device, then you will be prompted to enter and submit a security code sent to your phone or alternate email address.
3. Under the Two-step verification section, click/tap on Turn off two-step verification.
4. Click/tap on Yes to confirm.
5. Two-step verification is now turned off for your Microsoft account.
That's all the steps for how to turn on or off two-step verification for Microsoft account. However, you still take the risk of forgetting your Microsoft account password when using it. Thus click here to know how to get back the forgotten Microsoft account password here.
Download SmartKey Windows Password Recovery Standard:
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