How to enable 2-step verification for a Nintendo Account

By Tyler Treese Published April 20, 2020

Setting up two-step verification on your Nintendo Account is the best way to keep your Nintendo Switch secure. Doing so is a quick and easy process that will keep kids or anyone else from making purchases on your device without permission. Not only does it save you from a potential financial headache, but it will also make sure nobody accesses your account and makes changes to your login information if they stumble upon your username and password.

A Nintendo Account is mandatory to access the Switch eShop and is linked to one’s Nintendo Network ID. This is compatible with both the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo’s mobile games, including Mario Kart Tour and Fire Emblem Heroes. Please note that child accounts, which are for those under the age of 12, and supervised accounts cannot use this feature.

Recommended Videos

You can help secure your Nintendo Account by enabling 2-Step Verification.

For more details, visit: https://t.co/kqxbp8TobD pic.twitter.com/hZ1PnFWZQw

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 9, 2020

The first step in setting up two-step verification is to go to the Nintendo Account website and logging in. Once you’ve done that, all you have to do is go to the sign-in and security settings section. Scroll down to where it says “2-step verification” and click edit to enter your email address that is already tied to your account. Nintendo will then send a verification email with a six-digit code in it that you’ll have to enter to continue.

Next, you’ll need to download the free Google Authenticator app on your smartphone. This can be found on either Google Play on Android or the App Store for iOS users. Use the Google Authenticator app to scan the QR code that Nintendo will display on their web page. Your phone will then give you a six-digit code to complete the setup and a series of one-time use backup codes that should be kept in a safe location.

Implementing two-step verification will make accessing your Nintendo Account take slightly longer as you’ll have to enter a six-digit code from the Google Authenticator app in addition to their password to log in. This might be a mild inconvenience, but Nintendo Switch owners can rest easy knowing that nobody else has access to their account. It’s never fun to be on the phone with customer service, so this one change can save Nintendo Switch owners from a lot of annoyance.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

When not playing or writing about games, Tyler Treese serves as the Senior Editor at Wrestlezone. An experienced writer that…

Gaming

How to get the elevator keycard in Alan Wake 2: The Lake House

Agent Estevez

Upon booting up The Lake House DLC for Alan Wake 2, it doesn't take long before you're given a puzzle. Released alongside the game's anniversary update, The Lake House has you step into agent Kieran Estevez's shoes as she investigates the story behind one of the Federal Bureau of Control's research facilities.

Before Estevez can even venture down into the Lake House, you must acquire the proper keycard. And to do that, you'll have to figure out a six-digit code for a computer. Any Alan Wake 2 fan will know these puzzles well, and they're not always the easiest to figure out, so here's how to get the elevator keycard.
Elevator keycard computer password solution in Alan Wake 2: The Lake House
After realizing you must use a keycard with the proper clearance to use the elevator in Alan Wake 2: The Lake House, head into the large office right near the elevator. You'll need access to the computer, and the clues to its six-digit password are scattered across the room. To make the search easier for you, the computer password for the Lake House elevator is 071838.

Gaming

This classic Rare title is finally coming to Nintendo Switch Online

Banjo hangs from a ledage in a Banjo-Tooie promo.

Nintendo 64™ – October 2024 Game Update – Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack

Another classic Rare Nintendo 64 game is coming to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. Banjo-Tooie, the sequel to Banjo Kazooie (of course), is being added to the service on October 25, Nintendo announced on Friday.

Gaming

How to unlock everything in Super Mario Party Jamboree: boards, characters, more

The cast of Super Mario Party Jamboree.

The next installment in the Mario Party franchise is finally here, and it's packed with more boards, characters, and minigames than ever before. Mario Party Jamboree is the most robust entry and caps off the series' successful run on the Switch.

While there's plenty to discover and explore on your own by playing the game, longtime Mario Party fans will be looking to unlock as much content as possible quickly. We all want to play every board right away to find our favorites and spend some time in the shoes of new playable characters. Luckily, the unlockable characters and boards in Jamboree are pretty easy to unlock!
How to unlock characters in Super Mario Party Jamboree
When you first start playing Jamboree, you'll immediately see two mystery figures on the character selection screen. In past Mario Party entries, unlocking new characters took a lot of grinding — from winning a certain amount of games to long minigame marathons — but in Jamboree, you can unlock new characters immediately. You just have to know where to look.