2 factor authentication windows live mail

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a security process that requires a user to provide two different authentication factors to access a system, network, or application. In the case of Windows Live Mail, 2FA can be enabled to add an extra layer of security to your account.

Here's how to enable 2FA for Windows Live Mail:

Method 1: Using a Microsoft account

If you use a Microsoft account (such as Outlook.com or Hotmail) to sign in to Windows Live Mail, you can enable 2FA through the Microsoft account settings.

  1. Sign in to your Microsoft account on the Microsoft account website.
  2. Click on your profile picture or initials in the top right corner, then select "Security" from the dropdown menu.
  3. Scroll down to the "Two-step verification" section and click on "Get started".
  4. Follow the prompts to set up 2FA using one of the following methods:
    • Authenticator app (e.g. Microsoft Authenticator, Google Authenticator)
    • SMS text message
    • Phone call
  5. Once you've set up 2FA, you'll need to enter the verification code sent to your phone or generated by the authenticator app to complete the setup process.

Method 2: Using a third-party 2FA app

If you don't want to use Microsoft's built-in 2FA solution, you can use a third-party 2FA app to generate verification codes.

  1. Download and install a 2FA app on your device, such as Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, or Authy.
  2. Open the app and create a new account or add a new token.
  3. Scan the QR code or enter the secret key provided by the app to link it to your Windows Live Mail account.
  4. Once linked, the app will generate a verification code that you'll need to enter to access your Windows Live Mail account.

Enabling 2FA in Windows Live Mail

After setting up 2FA using one of the above methods, you'll need to enable it in Windows Live Mail.

  1. Open Windows Live Mail and sign in to your account.
  2. Click on "File" > "Options" > "Security".
  3. Under "Security settings", select the "Use two-factor authentication" checkbox.
  4. Enter the verification code generated by your 2FA app or sent to your phone to complete the setup process.

From now on, whenever you sign in to Windows Live Mail, you'll be prompted to enter the verification code generated by your 2FA app or sent to your phone to complete the authentication process.