How to Enable 2-Step Verification for Hotmail, by Adam Explains How on YouTube. 1 min 46 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 46 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Open account.microsoft.com in a browser and sign in with your Hotmail address and password.
Click the Security tab along the top of the page, then choose Advanced security options.
Scroll to the Two-step verification section and select Turn on.
Pick how you want to receive codes: the Microsoft Authenticator app, a text message, or a different email address.
Add your phone number or scan the QR code with the authenticator app, then type the code you receive to prove it works.
Choose Next and then Finish to save the setting. New sign-ins will now ask for a second proof.
If an older mail app or your phone's built-in mail client stops syncing, open App passwords in the same security menu, create one, and use it in place of your normal password.
Tips and common mistakes
Add at least two verification methods so a lost or dead phone does not lock you out.
Store the recovery code offline, on paper or in a password manager, not in your inbox.
Turning this on signs you out on other devices, so keep your phone handy when you do it.
If codes never arrive by text, switch to the authenticator app instead of retrying.
Questions
Does this work for an old Hotmail address?
Yes. Every Hotmail address is a Microsoft account, so the same security settings apply. Sign in at account.microsoft.com with the full @hotmail.com address.
What happens if I lose my phone?
Use the backup email or phone number you added earlier, or the recovery code, to sign in and change your method. That is why adding a second method matters.
Is 2-step verification the same as two-factor authentication?
Yes. Microsoft uses both names for the same feature: your password plus a second code or approval.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
