--- title: What is two-factor authentication (2FA) and how do I enable it? description: Learn what two-factor authentication (2FA) is and how to enable it on your personal ActBlue account. --- [Skip to content](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/articles/16870057878551-what-is-two-factor-authentication-2fa-and-how-do-i-enable-it#main-content) English - United States Show submenu for translations ![ActBlue](https://help.actblue.com/hubfs/1-B-AB-HorizontalLockupLogo-FullColor-RGB.svg) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English - United States Show submenu for translations - [Contact us](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/requests/new) [Contact us](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/requests/new) How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [ActBlue Support Documentation](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us) 2. [Core ActBlue](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/core-actblue) 3. [Signing In & Using 2FA in Core](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/core-actblue#signing-in-using-2fa-in-core) # What is two-factor authentication (2FA) and how do I enable it? ***Disclaimer:** [ActBlue user roles and permissions](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/articles/16870076456599-how-do-i-enable-specific-user-roles-and-permissions) dictate what users can do on our platform. If the tools or features mentioned in this article are unavailable to you, please speak to your Dashboard Admin(s) about updating your permissions. * --- ### **In this article:** 1. [What is 2FA and why is it important?](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/articles/16870057878551-what-is-two-factor-authentication-2fa-and-how-do-i-enable-it#whatis) 2. [Which authenticator should I use?](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/articles/16870057878551-what-is-two-factor-authentication-2fa-and-how-do-i-enable-it#what-authenticator) 3. [How do I set up 2FA with Google Authenticator?](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/articles/16870057878551-what-is-two-factor-authentication-2fa-and-how-do-i-enable-it#how) 4. [Where can I find my six-digit 2FA code? ](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/articles/16870057878551-what-is-two-factor-authentication-2fa-and-how-do-i-enable-it#where) 5. [Can I use another authenticator? ](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/articles/16870057878551-what-is-two-factor-authentication-2fa-and-how-do-i-enable-it#another) 6. [What are emergency recovery or backup codes and how do I generate them?](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/articles/16870057878551-what-is-two-factor-authentication-2fa-and-how-do-i-enable-it#backup) 7. [I received an email or pop-up prompt telling me that 2FA is now required to access my Dashboard. Why? ](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/articles/16870057878551-what-is-two-factor-authentication-2fa-and-how-do-i-enable-it#tfarequired) --- ### **What is 2FA and why is it important?** Two-factor authentication (or 2FA) is an extra layer of account security that requires users to provide two separate pieces of verification in order to confirm their identity. After filling out a username and password, 2FA commonly requires users to enter an additional authentication code that a phone app (ex. Google Authenticator) randomly generates. Besides securing routine logins, 2FA can also safeguard your account from unfamiliar log-ins. When logging in from a new device, 2FA will require you to provide an authenticator code in additional to your username and password, making it much harder for someone to impersonate you and access your account. Because security is a top priority at ActBlue, we strongly recommend campaign and organization Admins require 2FA for all users who access their Dashboard. --- ### **Which authenticator should I use?** We recommend using the **Google Authenticator **app for the safest, most secure experience possible. Google Authenticator is a time-based one-time password (TOTP) app that significantly upgrades your account’s security using algorithms to produce authentication codes. When you use Google Authenticator, you will not receive text messages or voice calls as part of the verification process as those methods are vulnerable to social engineering attacks. --- ### **How do I set up 2FA with Google Authenticator?** To set up 2FA with Google Authenticator, you'll first want to sign into your ActBlue account and then click the **Manage **tab at the top of the page. From the **Manage **dropdown provided, click **Enable Two-Factor Authentication:**   ![Screenshot showing an alert that says protect yourActBlue account, enable two-factor authentication.](https://actblue-img.s3.amazonaws.com/support.actblue.com/For+Campaigns+and+Organizations/TheDashboard/TwoFactor_AAA/2FA1.png)   You can also begin the 2FA set-up by following a similar prompt displayed at the top of your Dashboard: ![Screenshot showing an alert that says time to sign up for two-factor authentication.](https://actblue-img.s3.amazonaws.com/support.actblue.com/For+Campaigns+and+Organizations/TheDashboard/TwoFactor_AAA/2FA2.png)   If you don't see either prompt, you can enable 2FA by clicking the **Manage **tab at the top of the page and then selecting **Settings **from the dropdown:   ![Screenshot showing a red box around the settings button within the manage dropdown menu.](https://actblue-img.s3.amazonaws.com/support.actblue.com/For+Campaigns+and+Organizations/TheDashboard/TwoFactor_AAA/2FA3.png)   From the **Settings **page, simply click the blue **Enable** button beside **Two-factor authentication **to get started:   ![Screenshot showing a blue button users can click to enable two-factor authentication.](https://actblue-img.s3.amazonaws.com/support.actblue.com/For+Campaigns+and+Organizations/TheDashboard/TwoFactor_AAA/2FA4.png)   Following any of these methods should bring you to the 2FA enablement page where you'll find additional instructions on how to download **Google Authenticator** to your device:    ![Screenshot that shows steps to download an authenticator app within the Google Play or Apple app store and recommends the Google Authenticator app.](https://actblue-img.s3.amazonaws.com/support.actblue.com/For+Campaigns+and+Organizations/TheDashboard/TwoFactor_AAA/2FA5.png) In the current Apple App Store, the Google Authenticator icon should look like this:  ![Screenshot 2026-03-03 at 3.53.54 PM](https://help.actblue.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-03-03%20at%203.53.54%20PM.png?width=495&height=217&name=Screenshot%202026-03-03%20at%203.53.54%20PM.png) Once you've successfully downloaded **Google Authenticator,** open the app, select **Add a Code**, and  then select **Scan a QR Code:** **![Screenshot 2026-03-03 at 3.54.26 PM](https://help.actblue.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-03-03%20at%203.54.26%20PM.png?width=376&height=465&name=Screenshot%202026-03-03%20at%203.54.26%20PM.png)** ![Screenshot 2026-03-03 at 3.54.52 PM](https://help.actblue.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-03-03%20at%203.54.52%20PM.png?width=417&height=402&name=Screenshot%202026-03-03%20at%203.54.52%20PM.png) Using your device's camera, scan the barcode displayed on the ActBlue page. You will need to align the yellow box shown on your device's screen with the bar code shown in order to move to the next step.  ![Screenshot showing an example of a QR code that can be scanned within an authenticator app.](https://actblue-img.s3.amazonaws.com/support.actblue.com/For+Campaigns+and+Organizations/TheDashboard/TwoFactor_AAA/2FA6.png) Once your device's camera is successfully aligned with the bar code, the Google Authenticator app will generate a six-digit code likely titled **ActBlue**. Enter this code into the box at the bottom of the ActBlue screen and then click the blue **Verify and Enable **button to complete your 2FA set-up: ![Screenshot showing a box to enter the verification code and a button that says verify and enable.](https://actblue-img.s3.amazonaws.com/support.actblue.com/For+Campaigns+and+Organizations/TheDashboard/TwoFactor_AAA/2FA7.png) Going forward, you will now be intermittently prompted to enter a six-digit code generated by the Google Authenticator app when you sign into ActBlue. Please note this code is not a static number and will change regularly.  --- ### **Where can I find my six-digit 2FA code?** Once you've successfully set up 2FA on your ActBlue user profile, you will need to use the codes generated by your linked authenticator app in order to sign in. Unlike OTP codes, 2FA codes will **not **be sent via text or email.  To access your 2FA codes, simply open up your phone's linked authenticator app (in this case, Google Authenticator), locate the six-digit code displaying underneath the **ActBlue **heading, and then enter this code into the ActBlue sign in screen where prompted:  ![Screenshot 2026-03-03 at 3.55.25 PM](https://help.actblue.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-03-03%20at%203.55.25%20PM.png?width=540&height=315&name=Screenshot%202026-03-03%20at%203.55.25%20PM.png)   ![Screenshot 2026-03-03 at 3.55.46 PM](https://help.actblue.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-03-03%20at%203.55.46%20PM.png?width=440&height=468&name=Screenshot%202026-03-03%20at%203.55.46%20PM.png) --- ### **Can I use another authenticator? ** If you already use another 2FA app like Authy and prefer not to switch to Google Authenticator, we strongly recommend disabling the Authy Multi-Device feature. This feature makes your account vulnerable to social engineering attacks.  Using 2FA with Google Authenticator tends to be the most accessible method for ActBlue users. Our platform also supports YubiKeys (a physical device you insert into your computer, similar to a USB drive). YubiKeys users can now log in to ActBlue with codes generated by the [Yubico Authenticator desktop app](https://www.yubico.com/products/services-software/download/yubico-authenticator/) for 2FA. --- ### **What are emergency recovery or backup codes and how do I generate them?** Emergency recovery codes (also know as backup codes) are static codes you can use to log into your 2FA-protected account in the event you lose your device or don't have access to your authenticator app.  You will receive one emergency recovery codewhen you set up 2FA in ActBlue, meaning you can use this code for one, singular sign-in if you lose access to your authenticator app.  Once this emergency recovery code is used, a new one will be generated.  ![Screenshot 2026-09-09 at 12.39.03 PM](https://help.actblue.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-09-09%20at%2012.39.03%20PM.png?width=434&height=624&name=Screenshot%202026-09-09%20at%2012.39.03%20PM.png) You can also generate and view a new emergency recovery code by signing into ActBlue, clicking the **Manage **tab at the top of your screen, selecting **Settings**, and then navigating to the **Security **tab: ![Screenshot of a red box around a button that says settings under a dropdown menu entitled manage.](https://actblue-img.s3.amazonaws.com/support.actblue.com/For+Campaigns+and+Organizations/TheDashboard/TwoFactor_AAA/2FA10.png) ![Screenshot 2026-09-22 at 2.06.12 PM](https://help.actblue.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-09-22%20at%202.06.12%20PM.png?width=581&height=105&name=Screenshot%202026-09-22%20at%202.06.12%20PM.png) The **Security **tab will show you whether you’ve turned on 2FA and generated recovery/backup codes for your account. To generate a new recovery code from this page, simply click the **Generate **button provided:  ![Screenshot 2026-09-22 at 2.04.39 PM](https://help.actblue.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-09-22%20at%202.04.39%20PM.png?width=670&height=180&name=Screenshot%202026-09-22%20at%202.04.39%20PM.png) Next, verify your identity with a temporary code sent to your email address. The email should look something like this: ![Screenshot that shows an email that contains a temporary code.](https://actblue-img.s3.amazonaws.com/support.actblue.com/For+Campaigns+and+Organizations/TheDashboard/TwoFactor_AAA/GenerateBackupCodes2.png) Enter the temporary code and then click **Generate Code** to continue to your recovery/backup code. You should save this code immediately after it's generated.  After generating a new code, you should also receive an email from ActBlue Security Alerts confirming a new recovery/backup codes was generated.  --- ### **I received an email or pop-up prompt saying 2FA is now required to access my Dashboard. Why?** If you received an email or pop-up prompt saying that 2FA is now required to access a Dashboard, this means an Admin user on your Dashboard has opted to require 2FA for all users.  In order to access your Dashboard, you will need to set up 2FA on your account as soon as possible using the prompts provided or the instructions found above.  If you're an Admin user looking to require 2FA across your Dashboard, [check out this guide](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/articles/33774702450327-how-do-i-require-2fa-for-all-users-on-my-dashboard) for more information!   - [Donors & Grassroots Fundraisers](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/donors-grassroots-fundraisers#main-content) - [Contributions](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/donors-grassroots-fundraisers#contributions) - [ActBlue Express Accounts](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/donors-grassroots-fundraisers#actblue-express-accounts) - [Raising Money for Campaigns and Organizations](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/donors-grassroots-fundraisers#raising-money-for-campaigns-and-organizations) - 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