To enable 2FA for Fortnite, sign in to your Epic Games account on the Epic Games website, open the Password and Security section, and under Two-Factor Authentication select Set up next to the method you want, then enter the code it sends you. Two-factor authentication belongs to your Epic Games account rather than Fortnite’s settings menu, so one setup covers Fortnite on every platform linked to that account.
Below we cover the exact steps, which of Epic’s methods to choose, the extra step for console players, what 2FA unlocks in Fortnite, and what to do if it does not show as active or you get locked out.
Which Version This Covers
This guide reflects Fortnite as of Chapter 7 Season 4, Fortnite Override, on the v42.20 update. Two-factor authentication is an account security feature, not seasonal content, so it works the same whether you play on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch or mobile. What differs by platform is whether your account has an email address attached, which we cover below.
How to Turn On 2FA
Per Epic’s help center:
- Go to the Epic Games website and sign in with the account you play Fortnite on.
- Open your account settings and select the Password and Security section.
- Under Two-Factor Authentication, select Set up for your preferred method.
- Enter the code sent by email or SMS, or shown in your authenticator app, depending on the method.
- Your account page confirms the method is active, and Epic sends a confirmation email.
The address epicgames.com/2fa is a shortcut that redirects to that same section of the account page after you sign in. If you set up more than one method, Epic lets you pick which one it asks for first: select the three dots next to a method and choose Make my primary 2FA method.
Once it is on, Epic’s 2FA page says you will be asked for a code the first time you sign in afterward, on a new device, if it has been more than 30 days since you last signed in, or after clearing your browser cookies.
Which 2FA Method to Pick
Epic’s help center lists these methods:
- Epic Authenticator. Built into the Epic Games App and the Epic Games Store App. When you sign in, you get a number-match prompt and tap the matching number to approve.
- Authenticator app. A third-party app generates the code. Epic’s 2FA page names Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, LastPass Authenticator and Authy as common options.
- SMS. Epic texts a code to your phone. Epic notes that some regional numbers are not supported, which shows up as the error “SMS to this region is not supported”; use another method if you see it.
- Email. Epic sends a code to the address on your Epic Games account.
App-based methods keep working if you lose access to your inbox, and Epic gives you a list of backup codes when you enable an authenticator app. Write those down somewhere safe, because they are your way back in if you lose your phone.
If You Play on Console
This is the step that trips up most PlayStation, Xbox and Switch players. If you started Fortnite on a console without creating an Epic account, Epic made a nameless account for you with no email address or display name, and 2FA requires an email.
The fix, per Epic’s help center, is to upgrade the console or platform account to a full Epic Games account, which is free. You add an email address that is not already registered to another Epic account and that only you can access. After that, sign in on the Epic Games website with the upgraded account and follow the steps above. Upgrading also gives you an Epic display name, which our guide on changing your Fortnite name explains alongside console names.
Epic also recommends turning on two-factor protection for any account you use to sign in, such as your PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo account, since those logins can reach your Epic account too.
What 2FA Unlocks in Fortnite
Two-factor authentication is more than a security box to tick. Per Epic:
- Gifting. You cannot send gifts in Fortnite without it. Our guide to gifting skins and the Battle Pass covers the other gifting rules.
- Competitive events. 2FA is required to take part in Fortnite competitive events. If you want to review those matches later, our guide on watching replays covers tournament replays too.
- The Boogiedown Emote. Epic’s 2FA page says enabling it unlocks the Boogiedown Emote in Battle Royale.
- Save the World items. Owners of Save the World get 50 Armory slots, 10 Backpack slots and a Legendary Troll Stash Llama.
Epic says rewards may not appear right away, and restarting Fortnite is its first suggestion if they are missing. A secured account also protects the V-Bucks and cosmetics that our guide on refunding skins deals with.
If Fortnite Says 2FA Is Not Active
Epic’s help center points to one cause above all: 2FA was turned on for a different Epic account from the one you play on. Check which account Fortnite is signed in to, especially if you have ever made more than one Epic account, then enable 2FA on that account. If you are on console, confirm the account has its own email address, as described above. After making changes, give it a few minutes and fully restart the game.
If You Get Locked Out
Per Epic’s help center, on the 2FA prompt select Try another way. From there you can enter one of your backup codes, or choose to have a verification code sent to your account’s email instead. Once you are back in, Epic recommends updating your phone number or re-enabling 2FA so the account stays protected. For everything else in the cluster, see every Fortnite guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I enable 2FA from inside Fortnite? Epic’s instructions set it up through your Epic Games account on the Epic Games website, not the in-game settings. It then applies to Fortnite on every linked platform.
How do I get the Boogiedown Emote? Enable two-factor authentication on your Epic Games account. Epic says the emote unlocks as the reward, and restarting Fortnite helps if it does not appear.
Do I need 2FA to gift skins in Fortnite? Yes. Epic requires two-factor authentication before you can send gifts.
Why can’t I enable 2FA on my console account? Console-only accounts often have no email address. Upgrade to a full Epic Games account for free, then enable 2FA.
What if I lose my phone with the authenticator app? Select Try another way on the 2FA prompt, then use a backup code or have a code sent to your email.