Help Center

Using login verification

Login verification is an extra layer of security for your Twitter account. Instead of only entering a password to log in, you’ll also enter a code which is sent via text message to your mobile phone. This verification helps make sure that you, and only you, can access your account.

After you enable this feature, you will need both your password and your mobile phone to log in to your account. When you log in to twitter.com, Twitter for iOS, Twitter for Android, or mobile.twitter.com, you will receive a text message with a six-digit login code to enter (see our list of supported carriers here).

Note: If you manage multiple accounts that use the same phone number, it is possible to use login verification for each account. For added security, we recommend enabling login verification for all of your accounts.
Before you can enable login verification, you must:

Using login verification via web

To set up login verification on twitter.com:

  1. From your profile icon drop down menu, click Settings.
  2. Click on your Account settings and click the checkbox to Verify login requests.
  3. When prompted, click Okay, send me a message.
  4. If you receive our verification message, click Yes.
    Note: you'll have to enter your password.
  5. Read the overview instructions, then click Start.
  6. Click Send code to add your phone number.
    Note: If you already have a phone number associated with your Twitter account, we will send you an SMS to confirm your number.
  7. Enter the verification code sent to your device, then click Submit.
  8. To proceed, click Continue.
  9. Click Get Backup Code to generate a code. We recommend you store a screenshot of the code in case you need it for future use. This will help you access your account if you lose your mobile phone or change your phone number.

Now, when you log in to your account on twitter.com, Twitter for iOS, Twitter for Android, or mobile.twitter.com, a six-digit login code will be sent via text message to your phone. Enter the code when prompted to access your account.

Note: If you are currently logged in to Twitter on the web or on your mobile device (including any applications), you will not be logged out of any existing sessions once login verification is enabled. If you do choose to log out of a third party application associated with your Twitter account, you will need to log back in using a temporary password instead of your usual username and password combination.

To disable login verification:

  1. Click on your Account settings and deselect the Verify login requests option.
  2. Click Save changes. 
    Note: you'll have to enter your password.

Using login verification on Twitter for iOS

To set up login verification on Twitter for iOS:

  1. From the Me tab on your device, tap on the gear iconand select Settings.
  2. Tap Account, then tap Security.
    Note: If you don’t already have a phone number associated with your Twitter account, you’ll see a prompt to add one. A valid phone number is required to enable login verification.
  3. Drag the slider to turn on Login verification.
  4. Tap Confirm to begin enrollment.
  5. Read the overview instructions, then tap Start.
  6. Tap Send code to add your phone number.
    Note: If you already have a phone number associated with your Twitter account, we will send you an SMS to confirm your number.
  7. Enter the verification code sent to your device, then tap Submit.
  8. To proceed, tap Continue.
  9. Tap Get Backup Code to generate a code. We recommend you store a screenshot of the code in case you need it for future use. This will help you access your account if you lose your mobile phone or change your phone number.

Now, when you log in to your account on twitter.com, Twitter for iOS, Twitter for Android, or mobile.twitter.com, a six-digit login code will be sent via text message to your phone. Enter the code when prompted to access your account.

If you enrolled in login verification before March 21, 2016:
When you log in to your account on twitter.com or on another device using Twitter for iOS, Twitter for Android, or mobile.twitter.com, a push notification will be sent to your phone. Open the push notification to approve the login request. Once you approve, you will be immediately logged in to your account on twitter.com.

You may also receive a login code via SMS text message. You can opt into this by clicking request a code sent to your phone via SMS when you log in to your account on twitter.com.

Note: You can also approve or deny your login requests from within the app by tapping Security, then tapping Login Requests. Pull down on the list to refresh for new requests. Requests will appear on this screen even if you did not receive a push notification.

To disable login verification for iOS:

  1. From the Me tab on your device, tap on the gear iconand select Settings.
  2. Tap Account, then tap Security.
  3. Drag the slider to turn off Login verification.
  4. Tap Confirm to save your settings.

Using login verification on Twitter for Android

To set up login verification on Twitter for Android:

  1. In the top menu, you will either see a navigation menu icon  or your profile icon. Tap whichever icon you have and select Settings.
  2. Tap Account, then tap Security.
    Note: If you don’t already have a phone number associated with your Twitter account, you’ll see a prompt to add one. A valid phone number is required to enable login verification.
  3. Check the box for Login verification to turn it on.
  4. Tap OK to begin enrollment.
  5. Read the overview instructions, then tap Start.
  6. Tap Send code to add your phone number. 
    Note: If you already have a phone number associated with your Twitter account, we will send you an SMS to confirm your number.
  7. Enter the verification code sent to your device, then tap Submit.
  8. To proceed, tap Continue.
  9. Tap Get Backup Code to generate a code. We recommend you store a screenshot of the code in case you need it for future use. This will help you access your account if you lose your mobile phone or change your phone number.

Now, when you log in to your account on twitter.com, Twitter for iOS, Twitter for Android, or mobile.twitter.com, a six-digit login code will be sent via text message to your phone. Enter the code when prompted to access your account.

If you enrolled in login verification before March 21, 2016:
When you log in to your account on twitter.com or on another device using Twitter for iOS, Twitter for Android, or mobile.twitter.com, a push notification will be sent to your phone. Open the push notification to approve the login request. Once you approve, you will be immediately logged in to your account on twitter.com.

You may also receive a login code via SMS text message. You can opt into this by clicking request a code sent to your phone via SMS when you log in to your account on Twitter.com.

Note: You can also approve or deny your login requests from within the app by tapping Security, then tapping Login Requests. Pull down on the list to refresh for new requests. Requests will appear on this screen even if you did not receive a push notification.

To disable login verification for Android:

  1. In the top menu, you will either see a navigation menu icon  or your profile icon. Tap whichever icon you have and select Settings.
  2. Tap Account, then tap Security.
  3. Uncheck the box for Login verification to switch it off.
  4. Tap OK to confirm.

Temporary passwords

Temporary passwords

After you enable login verification for your account on the web, you'll need to use a temporary password to log in to Twitter on other devices or applications that require you to enter your Twitter password; you will not be able to log in using your usual username and password combination. For example, if you enabled login verification in your account settings on the web, and need to login to the Twitter for Mac app, you will need to use a temporary password to do so.

If we detect you will need a temporary password to log in, we will send one via SMS text message to your phone. Alternatively, you can generate your own temporary password. 

To generate temporary password on twitter.com:

  1. Click on the Account tab of your account settings on twitter.com.
  2. Click the Generate app password button.
  3. Enter your current account password and click Submit again.
  4. You can click on the temporary password and this will automatically copy it for you.
  5. When prompted to log in to your other device or application, enter your username and use the temporary password that you were provided.
Note: Temporary passwords will expire after one hour. You do not need a temporary password to log in to Twitter for iOS or Twitter for Android, or mobile.twitter.com.

Having trouble?

Check out our troubleshooting article for solutions to common issues.