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Setting Up and Using Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) in Zoom

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Overview

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a two-step sign-in process that requires a one-time code from a mobile app or text message, in addition to the main Zoom sign-in. This provides an additional layer of security since users will need access to their phone to sign in to the Zoom web portal, desktop client, mobile app, or Zoom Room.

two-factor authentication

Setting up 2FA

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal after your admin has enabled 2FA.
  2. Under Profile, scroll down to Two-factor Authentication, and select Turn on. You’ll be asked to enter your password to enable it.Turn on 2FA
  3. Select Authentication App or SMS (text) as your authentication method.Authentication App and SMS
  4. Follow one of these sections depending on what you selected:

Authentication app

  1. Click Set Up.
  2. If you don’t already have a 2FA app on your mobile device, Zoom recommends downloading Google Authenticator (Android/iPhone) or Authenticator (Windows Phone 7)
  3. Open the 2FA app on your mobile device.
  4. Tap the option to scan a QR code. Look for a camera or QR code icon and scan the QR code on the Zoom web portal. The 2FA app will generate a 6-digit, one-time code. Click Next.QR code
  5. Enter the 6-digit code, then click Verify.Authentication code
  6. Zoom will display a list of recovery codes. If you lose your mobile device, you can use a recovery code instead of a generated 6-digit code to sign in.
    • Note: If you aren’t able to verify the code. Click Back to display the QR code again.
  7. Click Download or Print to store the recovery codes. Each recovery code can only be used once. Select Done.Recovery codes

SMS (Text)

  1. Click Set Up.
  2. Select a country code for your phone number and enter a phone number where you will receive 2FA codes. Do not enter any hyphens.SMS authentication
  3. Click Send code. Zoom will send a 6-digit, one-time code to your number.
  4. Open the text sent by Zoom. Copy the code in the text, enter it in the Zoom web portal, and click Verify.Enter SMS code
  5. Zoom will display a list of recovery codes. If you lose your mobile device, you can use a recovery code instead of a generated 6-digit code to sign in.
    • Note: If you aren’t able to verify the code. Click Back then try again.
  6. Click Download or Print to store the recovery codes. Each recovery code can only be used once. Select Done.Recovery codes

Signing in using 2FA

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal, desktop client, mobile app, or Zoom Room.
    If you set up 2FA using SMS, click Send code. SMS code
  2. Zoom will ask for the code generated from your 2FA app, or the code sent to you using SMS. Open the 2FA app on your phone or view the text from Zoom.
  3. Enter the 6-digit code displayed on the 2FA app or text.
  4. Click Verify.

Signing in using a 2FA recovery code

If you no longer have access to your 2FA codes (for example, you misplaced device, uninstalled your 2FA app, or removed Zoom from the 2FA app), you can sign in using a recovery code you obtained when you set up 2FA.

Note: You can also contact your admin to reset your 2FA setup. When you sign in to the Zoom web portal, desktop client, or mobile app, you will be prompted to set up 2FA again.

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal, desktop client, mobile app, or Zoom Room.
  2. Click Enter a recovery code.Recovery code
  3. Enter one of the recovery codes you obtained during setup. Each recovery code can only be used once.
  4. Click Verify to sign in.
  5. (Optional) If you lost access to your 2FA device, edit your existing 2FA setup to add a new device.

Editing your 2FA setup

After setting up 2FA, you can edit your existing setup if want to remove a device, set up 2FA on another device, or view recovery codes.

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
  2. Under Profile, scroll down to Two-factor Authentication, and use these options to set up 2FA on a new device or remove an existing setup:
  • Authentication App
    • Set Up: Set up 2FA using a supported 2FA app. This option is only visible if you don’t have an existing 2FA setup that uses a 2FA app.
    • Change Device: Set up 2FA again using a supported 2FA app. This option is only visible if you have an existing 2FA setup that uses a 2FA app.
    • Remove Device: Remove the existing 2FA setup that uses a 2FA app.Edit authentication app
  • SMS
    • Set Up: Set up 2FA using a phone number that can receive SMS. This option is only visible if you don’t have an existing 2FA setup using SMS.
    • Remove Phone: Remove the existing 2FA setup that uses SMS.Remove phone
  • Recovery Codes: Click View Codes to view a list of recovery codes.View codes

Contact Support

This article was created and is maintained by the Office of Academic Technology. 

If you have found an error in this article or if you need assistance incorporating this article in your course, please contact the Faculty Instructional Support Specialists.

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