Steam – Turn on 2FA – How to Add Two-Factor Authentication for Steam Web or Mobile App
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Steam Guard is Steam’s proprietary two-factor authentication (2FA) protocol used to protect accounts from hackers. Steam Guard is used to protect accounts from hackers or unauthorized access by requiring users to enter a security code each time they log in.
Steam Guard 2FA works differently on the website than on the mobile app. With Steam Guard enabled, users must log in from an authenticated mobile device. Alternatively, when logging in from a laptop or desktop computer, users must enter a code sent to the email address associated with the account.
How to Use Two-factor Authentication for Steam – Web Desktop or Laptop
Steam sets a cookie for website logins from laptop and desktop computers. To use two-factor authentication, users will have to verify their email address used for the account and enable 2FA in account settings. With two-factor authentication enabled, each time a user attempts to login into Steam, they will be sent an email with a code that must be entered each time they log in.
With Steam Guard enabled, Steam saves a cookie to remember your computer or browser.
Where is the Steam Guard Menu? Web Steam
Steam Guard for a laptop or desktop computer is turned on in Steam account settings.
- Log into your Steam web client
- Click on Steam in the upper left corner
- Go to Settings
- Under the Account tab, select Manage Steam Guard Account Security
- Click on Manage Steam Guard
- Select Get Steam Guard codes by email (will require you to re-login)
Each time you try to log into your Steam account when Steam Guard is enabled, a text code will be sent to the email address attached to the Steam account.
Your browser must have cookies enabled for Steam Guard to work properly.
Why is Steam Guard is Not Working?
If Steam Guard web client is still not working then you may have your web browser security is set to high, private browsing enabled, or your web browser may be clearing cookies when you exit.
How to Add Two-Factor Authentication to Steam – Mobile App
The email address associated with your Steam account can be used for web client 2FA and for account recovery, but it does not enable two-factor authentication for mobile devices.
To use Steam Guard on a mobile device users need to download the Steam app. After that, they must authenticate their phone with their team account. Users receive a unique Steam Guard code that must be used each time they log in from the mobile app. The code changes occasionally.
Where is the Steam Guard Menu? Steam Mobile App
- Download the Steam app from the official Google Play store or the are the Apple store. Never download any app from third-party websites
- Open the Steam app and login
- Select Steam Guard from the menu
- Choose Add Authenticator and follow the instructions
- Enter your phone number in the pop-up screen
- Steam guard mobile authenticator is now enabled
A confirmation code will be sent and must be entered into the app to authenticate the phone. Entering a phone number into the Steam app authenticates the device. When a mobile device is authenticated with Steam Guard, users are sent a permanent recovery code that they should keep in case they need to recover their Steam account.
What is two-factor Authentication
Two-factor Authentication is a way to secure an online account by requiring a second step each time you log in. A common form of two-factor authentication is requiring the user to enter a code sent to an email address associated with an account. To login, the user enters a username and password. After the text code is sent to their email, it must be entered on the screen to complete the login process. Another common form of 2FA is sending the login code via SMS text to a pre-authorized mobile device.
Google Authenticator cannot be used as an alternative authenticator app for Steam
What is Steam?
Steam is a video game digital distribution platform developed by Valve Corporation. It was launched in September 2003 as a way for Valve to provide automatic updates for their games. It eventually expanded to include games from third-party publishers. The platform has over 30,000 games. Steam games include PUBG, Rainbow Six Siege, Grand Theft Auto, and Warframe. There is no monthly subscription with steam
