Two-factor authentication for your Instagram account adds an extra layer of protection to secure your account. It involves giving two pieces of information to be able to log in and access your account.
This is incredibly useful to prevent any unauthorized people from using your account.
Once you set it up, even if someone gets access to your password, it won’t be enough to log in to your account. So let’s learn how Instagram two-factor authentication works and how to set it up.
How Two-Factor Authentication Works?
As mentioned above, two-factor authentication ensures that only you can access your account on the web or any device. It is also known as 2FA in short. Whenever you try to sign in from a new device, you will be required to give two pieces of information, namely your password and a six-digit verification code. The verification code will appear on your trusted devices or will be sent to your phone number.
How to Turn on Two-Factor Authentication on Instagram
Before you begin: Download the Google Authenticator or one of the similar authenticator apps on app stores.
1. Open Instagram, go to your profile, and tap the hamburger icon at the top right.
2. Tap Settings → Security → Two-factor authentication → Get Started.
3. From here, you can choose to get the 2FA code from an authenticator app (this works even offline) or via text message. Let us choose the ‘Authentication app.’
4. Tap Next → Open → Yes. (this may vary if you use some other authenticator app)
5. Now, tap the six-digit Instagram code to copy it.
6. Go back to Instagram and paste/enter the code here.
7. Tap Next to successfully set up 2FA for your Insta account!
Important:
Do not forget to save your backup codes somewhere else. These will come in handy if you lose your device or cannot access the authenticator app.
After this, you may follow the same steps to enable 2FA using text messages to have an additional method of verification.
You can also set Instagram two-factor authentication via computer. For this, click your profile picture → Settings → Privacy and Security → Edit Two-Factor Authentication Setting.
Now, click Use Text Message and enable 2FA (the authentication app option is currently unsupported on the web).
Once 2FA is set, you will have to enter this one-time code every time you log in to Instagram from a new, untrusted device.
