Two-factor authentication adds additional security to your Reddit account by requiring a second step to sign in. It requires you to give a 6-digit verification code generated from your phone in addition to your username and password login.

When two-factor authentication is enabled, you will need your password and a verification code from your phone whenever you sign in on Reddit or with a Reddit login. Even if someone else obtained your Reddit username and password, they still could not log in as you.

How do I enable two-factor authentication?

Log in to your Reddit account

Click on preferences in the top menu and then click password/email

in the top menu and then click Under ‘two-factor authentication’, select enable

Follow the steps to complete the process Verify your email address Enter your password Set up your authenticator app (see ‘Get the code through an authenticator app’ below for more information) Generate and save your backup codes



Get the code through an authenticator app

Several mobile apps are available which allow you to generate verification codes for two-factor authentication. Typically, any app supporting Time-based One-Time Password (TOTP) protocol will work. Here are a few we suggest:

Google Authenticator (Android or iPhone)

Authy (Android or iPhone)

To use one of these apps:

While enabling, you’ll see a prompt with a QR code you will use to register your Reddit account with your authenticator app. Open your authenticator and follow the instructions given to you (you’ll usually select to “add a new account” or similar) and scan the QR code when prompted by the app.

If your authenticator app is not scanning the QR code properly or failing for another reason, you can enter the security key manually. Select enter the key manually and enter this into your authenticator app.

Once your app is configured, enter the security code generated by your authenticator app to complete the two-factor authentication process.

You will receive an email and personal message (PM) confirming your enrollment.

Generate backup codes

If you lose your mobile device or cannot use your authenticator app, you can use backup codes provided by Reddit to access your account. Ten backup codes are generated. Each code can be used only one time.

We recommend you print off and store your codes in a safe location.

To generate backup codes:

Log in to your Reddit account

Click on preferences in the top menu and then click password/email

in the top menu and then click Under ‘two-factor authentication’, select generate for ‘backup codes’

for ‘backup codes’ Follow the steps to complete the process Enter your password Access and write down your backup codes



To log in with your backup codes, see more under ‘How do I log in with two-factor authentication?’

How do I log in with two-factor authentication?

With your authenticator app

To log in on either desktop and iOS / Android:

Sign into Reddit

Enter your username and password

Open your authenticator app on your mobile phone. Select the Reddit account you configured

Enter the 6-digit code provided in your app

Select check code

With backup codes

To log in with your backup codes on either desktop and iOS / Android:

Locate your backup codes

Sign into Reddit

Enter your username and password

When asked for your verification code, select Or use a backup code

Enter the 6-digit backup code and select check code

What do I do If I lost my phone or can’t log in with two-factor authentication?

Use backup code

If you’ve lost your mobile device, you can use backup codes to log in to your Reddit account. See more under ‘Generate backup codes’.

Sign in from a trusted computer

You may be signed into Reddit on a trusted desktop computer even though you have lost your mobile device. If you are, you can disable two-factor authentication until you can again get verification codes. See more under ‘How do I disable two-factor authentication?’

Submit a request to our Community team

We recommend this only if the previous options are unavailable. This process may take us several days and does not guarantee your account can be recovered.

Submit a request and fill out the information about your account. We will ask you questions about your account to verify ownership.

How do I disable two-factor authentication?

To disable two-factor authentication on your Reddit account:

Log in to your Reddit account

Click on preferences in the top menu and then click password/email

in the top menu and then click Under ‘two-factor authentication’, select disable

Enter your password and select disable two-factor

Will my third-party applications work with two-factor authentication?

Yes. Applications using OAuth will be supported. When signing in with your Reddit credentials, you will be asked to enter your 6-digit verification code.

However, some applications may not be using the OAuth protocol. If you have two-factor authentication enabled, and you are unable to sign in to a third-party application, you can use the following method:

While using the third-party application:

In the username field, enter your Reddit username as you normally would

In the password field, enter your password and your verification code in the following format: “<password>:<verification_code>”. Don’t forget the colon in the middle!

Doing so should allow you access to the app.

What if I switch or get a new phone?

If you get a new mobile device, you’ll need to set up two-factor authentication with your new phone: