How to turn on two-factor authentication for Reddit
Last checked
Short answer
Where the setting is
On Reddit, you turn it on in a web browser on a computer: your username, then Settings, then Two-factor authentication.
Reddit’s help page says: “Currently, you can only enable two-factor authentication by logging into Reddit on your computer’s web browser.” That means these steps can’t be done in the Reddit app.
Reddit also says this two-factor authentication applies when you log in to Reddit with a password. If you log in with a Google account or an Apple ID, you set up two-factor authentication through them.
Reddit’s page gives two sets of steps, one for reddit.com and one for Old Reddit. This guide covers the reddit.com steps. It does not cover Old Reddit.
Click on your username in the top right of your screen and select Settings.
Under Account authorization, click the Two-factor authentication option to enable it.
Next, enter your password and click Confirm.
Follow the step-by-step instructions to set up your authentication and don’t forget to save your backup codes.
After setup, you may be asked to log out and log back in to your account. Moving forward, you’ll need to enter a 6-digit code from your authenticator app every time you log in to Reddit.
Reddit says to follow these steps once you’re logged in.
Backup
Save your backup codes
Reddit says: “If you lose access to the app you used to set two-factor authentication (because, say, you got a new phone and threw out your old one) you can use your backup codes to log in to your account.” To get them, log in to Reddit in a web browser on your computer, then:
Click on your username in the top right of your screen and select Settings.
Under Account authorization click Access your backup codes.
Enter your password and click Continue.
This will generate ten backup codes that can be used one time each.
Reddit says: “We highly recommend you write your backup codes down and save them in a safe spot or store them in a password manager.” If you ever lose the phone, see our guide on what to do if you lose your phone.
