Skip to main content
Become a TechRadar Insider
- Join our community
5
Exclusive perks
24/7
Insider insights
44K+
Active Members
Weekly newsletters
Get daily news, weekly deals and the week’s top tech stories
Commenting access
Join the conversation, share your thoughts and get expert advice
Member badges
Earn badges as you explore news, deals, reviews, guides and more
Exclusive deals
Save on gadgets, subscriptions and accessories with handpicked discounts
Become a TechRadar Insider
Sign up with your email below to instantly access member features, newsletters and exclusive Insider perks
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
Become a TechRadar Insider now

Sign up with your email below to instantly access member features, newsletters and exclusive Insider perks

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to Tech Radar club !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Start reading to unlock your first badge
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest in phones

Latest in phones

News, deals, reviews, guides and more…

Start reading
Latest in computing

Latest in computing

News, deals, reviews, guides and more on the newest computing gadgets

Start reading

Your membership perks

Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more

Explore now
Member Exclusives

Member Rewards

Unlock and manage exclusive Techradar member rewards.

See rewards

Sign Out
Tech Radar Tech Radar Pro Tech Radar Gaming
TechRadar TechRadar the business technology experts
SG EditionSingapore
DK EditionDanmark FI EditionSuomi NO EditionNorge SE EditionSverige UK EditionUK IT EditionItalia NL EditionNederland BE (NL) EditionBelgië (Nederlands) FR EditionFrance DE EditionDeutschland ES EditionEspaña
US EditionUS (English) CA EditionCanada MX EditionMéxico
AU EditionAustralia NZ EditionNew Zealand
RSS
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
Trending
  • Best office chairs
  • Best 3D printers
  • Best antivirus
  • Best web hosting
  • Best website builder
  1. Pro

How to strengthen and secure your Windows 10 log-in

News
By EZ Bardeguez published 26 August 2015

Double authentication is key

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Introduction

Introduction

Double Authentication adds a second layer of security on your computer, device or account. By adding a primary layer of security, your password, you can log into your computer normally. Double Authentication requires you to input a 6-digit code that is randomly generated after 30 seconds on an app that you install on your phone. If you forget your original password, then Google can send it to a backup email or your phone (via SMS).

So, even if someone steals your password, they would need to have a Google Authentication App to generate a random key.

Page 1 of 5
Page 1 of 5
How to set it up

How to set it up

Download the Google Authenticator app - iOS here and Android here - and download that to your mobile phone.

The next step is harder, I promise.

Page 2 of 5
Page 2 of 5
Getting Windows 10 with Double Authentication

Getting Windows 10 with Double Authentication

Once all the prerequisites are done, open settings in the taskbar and click on Accounts. Note - if you are using a local account on your computer following through with these steps will link your computer with your Microsoft account. To setup your "Microsoft Account" click here.

Click on "Manage my Microsoft Account" and Edge will open to your Microsoft Account page. Once opened, click on "Security and Privacy."

On this page, click on a link for "More security sessions," which is the third link on the left-hand column which is the third one under the "Account security" header. Log in with your Microsoft credentials.

Scroll down and under "Two-step verification" make sure you click on "activate two-step authentication."

Page 3 of 5
Page 3 of 5
Setting up the app

Setting up the app

Click on the "Set up identity verification app" and follow the steps to add Microsoft to your Google Authenticator app. Make sure the app is open and click the '+' button and choose "Scan Barcode." The app is really easy to use. You just point your phone's camera toward the screen and scan the barcode and everything is already setup for you.

Page 4 of 5
Page 4 of 5
Final step

Final step

You will have to sign into your account and it will ask you for Authentication (via the app) but that is it.

Congratulations, and welcome to a safer and more secure Windows 10.

Page 5 of 5
Page 5 of 5
TOPICS
Windows 10 Microsoft
EZ Bardeguez
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Whatsapp
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Threads
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Tech Radar
Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox

Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Latest in Pro
A blue digital cloud containing lots of symbols on a dark blue background
Pro Why ‘just enough to succeed’ should be your only approach to tooling
 
 
Hands typing on a tablet with AI superimposed in text in front
Pro 2026 is the year payroll stacks break, and AI must grow up
 
 
Suitcase in a hotel room
Security Millions of hotel goers may have been exposed after hackers steal data and leak it on Telegram
 
 
business vpn
Pro Is this the tipping point for AI at work? New Gallup survey finds half of all US employees now use it in some way
 
 
Robots in a data center
Pro The new engineering playbook: how AI design copilots are reshaping product development
 
 
A person using the trackpad of the Apple MacBook Neo.
Pro Looking for a new PC? Now might be great time to upgrade,
 
 
Latest in News
Future Summer Shows 2026 artwork for Future Games Show Summer Showcase, FGS Live, and PC Gaming Show.
Gaming The Future Games Show Summer Showcase, FGS Live, and the PC Gaming Show have been confirmed for June, with the Showcase to feature 'world premieres, exclusive trailers, and stealth demo drops'
 
 
Suitcase in a hotel room
Security Millions of hotel goers may have been exposed after hackers steal data and leak it on Telegram
 
 
AI
AI Platforms & Assistants Gemini leads in human-like AI writing as detection tools fall behind
 
 
Allbirds
AI Platforms & Assistants I have an Allbirds collection that I love, and its AI pivot feels worse than poorly-fitting shoes
 
 
A photo of Apple's Greg Joswiak next to a mocked up pair of Apple smart glasses
Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality Apple drops fresh hint about its rumored Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses rival
 
 
Claude AI
Claude Claude is having some problems, as Anthropic confirms an active issue
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. 1
    Millions of hotel goers may have been exposed after hackers steal data and leak it on Telegram
  2. 2
    The Future Games Show Summer Showcase, FGS Live, and the PC Gaming Show have been confirmed for June, with the Showcase to feature 'world premieres, exclusive trailers, and stealth demo drops'
  3. 3
    'ChatGPT keeps getting flagged over and over again' — Gemini is the best AI at mimicking human writing and evading detection
  4. 4
    I wasn’t driven mad by the puzzles in Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss, but some frustrating decisions and technical hiccups almost ruined this clever cosmic horror puzzler
  5. 5
    Beef season 2 ending explained: everything that happened in the hit Netflix series' explosive and unhinged finale

Useful links

  • Best VPN
  • Best Free VPN
  • Best Web Hosting Service
  • Best Website Builder
  • Best Laptops
  • Best Gaming Laptops
  • Best Gaming PC
  • Best PC Gaming Chair
  • Best Phone
  • Best TV
  • Best Oled TVs
  • Best Smartwatch
  • Best Turntables
  • Best Noise Cancelling Headphones
  • Best Wireless Earbuds
  • Best Office Chairs
  • Best Camera
  • Best Dash Cam
  • Best Drones
  • Best Robot Vacuums

TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Web notifications
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...