MFA, sometimes referred to as two-factor authentication or 2FA, is a security enhancement that allows you to present two pieces of evidence – your credentials – when logging in to an account. Your credentials fall into any of these three categories: something you know (like a password or PIN), something you have (like a smart card), or something you are (like your fingerprint).
What You Need:
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Your computer
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Your phone
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Internet connection
Steps:
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Open your web browser and go to your Google Account.
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Access Security Settings:
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Turn On 2-Step Verification:
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Choose Your Verification Method.
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You can choose to get codes on your phone, use a special key, or use an app called Google Authenticator.
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Text Message:
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In the 2-Step Verification settings, click Add a phone number.
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Enter your phone number and choose if you want to get codes by text message or voice call.
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Click Next.
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Google will send a code to your phone. Enter this code on your computer and click Verify.
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Google Authenticator:
There are other brands of authenticator apps that will work with Google such as Duo, Okta, and InterceptX. Use whichever app you prefer. Caution: Microsoft has recently changed their authenticator app so that it only works with Microsoft accounts.
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Download the Google Authenticator app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
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Open the app and tap Get Started.On your computer, click Set up authenticator.
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A QR code (a square barcode) will show up on your screen.
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Open the Google Authenticator app, tap Scan a QR code, and scan the QR code on your computer screen.
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Verify the Setup: The app will show a code. Enter this code on your computer and click Verify.
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YubiKey:
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Plug in your YubiKey:
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Insert your YubiKey into a USB port on your computer.
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Follow the on-screen instructions: Google will guide you through the setup process for your specific YubiKey.
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Backup Options:
These steps should help you set up Google MFA easily. If you have any questions or need more help, please reach out to the IT Helpdesk.
Additional help:
Here are some YouTube videos that can also help with completing the setup.
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ANDROID Google Authenticator Install and MFA Set Up:
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This video outlines the steps to add Google Authenticator to an Android smartphone and set up MFA.
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Watch the video
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iPHONE Google Authenticator Install and MFA Set Up:
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This video shows how to install and set up Google Authenticator on an iPhone.
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Watch the video
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How To: Setup Multi-Factor Authentication on Google:
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This step-by-step tutorial explains how to enable two-factor authentication on your Google account using various methods.
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Watch the video