How to Enable 2-Step Verification Feature in Your Microsoft Account?

“2-step verification” is a popular and widely used security feature which is mainly used by email service providers and social networking websites such as Gmail, Facebook, etc.

2-step verification adds an extra layer to your account security. This feature asks you to enter a security code which is usually sent to your mobile phone whenever you try to log into your account. So if someone knows your user ID and password, he can’t log into your account until he enters the correct security code which he’ll never get because the code will be sent to your mobile phone.

Google is already providing this 2-step verification feature for its Gmail users and now its turn of Microsoft. Many Microsoft account users (such as Hotmail, Windows Live, Outlook, XBox) were requesting this feature since long time and now Microsoft has finally added this feature to Microsoft Accounts.

If you are a Microsoft account user, you should definitely enable this new 2-step verification feature in your account for better security and protection.

You can enable 2-step verification feature in your Microsoft account using following simple steps:

1. First of all go to following link and sign in using your Microsoft account credentials:

Microsoft Account Security and Privacy Settings

Now click on “More security settings” link.

Alternatively you can click on following link to directly open your Microsoft account security info page:

Microsoft Account Security Settings Page

2. Now click on “Turn on two-step verification” link given on the page and follow the instructions.

3. That’s it. Now whenever you’ll try to sign in using your Microsoft account, you’ll be required to enter an extra security code.

NOTE: Once you enable 2-step verification feature, some programs such as Windows Live Mail, Thunderbird, etc will not allow you to sign in using your current password. It happens because these kind of programs don’t support 2-step verification security codes. To solve this problem, you’ll need to create App password using simple steps given in following tutorial:

[Fix] Mail Apps Showing Incorrect Password Error After Enabling 2-Step Verification

This extra 2-step verification feature will always protect your account whether you are trying to sign in using a web browser, in Windows 8 or in any Microsoft app. In fact it’ll also work on iOS and Google Android devices.

If you can’t see this new option in your Microsoft account, you’ll need to wait for some time until Microsoft enables this new feature to your account.