Two-Step Verification
About two-step verification
When you set up and activate your Square account, you’ll be asked to enable two-step verification. Two-step verification is a tool that provides an extra layer of security for your Square account, protecting your account from unauthorized access.
You have three options for two-step verification:
Receive an SMS message
Use an authentication app
You can add multiple phone numbers to provide more options when receiving the verification code.
Once you set up your first verification method, you can select a backup method, either through an authentication app or a second phone number.
Before you begin
You can set up two-step verification from your Square Dashboard.
To set up two-step verification, you need a mobile phone number or an authentication app like Google Authenticator for iOS or Android, Microsoft Authenticator, or Authy. You can only use one authentication app at a time.
If you don’t want to enter a verification code every time you sign in to the Square app or Square Dashboard, select Remember this device for 90 days. Every 90 days, you’ll need to sign in with a verification code. You can choose this option again once the 90 days are up.
Set up two-step verification
You can set up two-step verification in your Square Dashboard.
- Sign in to your Square Dashboard and select Settings > Account & Settings > Personal Information > Sign in and security.
- Under Two-step verification, select Enable.
- Select Voice or text message > Text me the code (SMS) then click Next.
- Add your primary mobile phone number and select Continue.
- You’ll receive a verification code via text. Enter the verification code in your Square Dashboard and select Verify.
- Sign in your Square Dashboard and click Account & Settings > Personal Information > Sign in and security.
- Under Two-step verification, select Enable > Voice or text message > Call me (Phone call).
- Add your phone number and select Continue.
- You’ll receive a verification code via phone call. Enter the verification code in your Dashboard and select Verify.
- Download an authentication app like Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, or Authy.
- Sign in to your Square Dashboard and select Account & Settings > Personal Information > Sign in and security.
- Under Two-step verification, select Enable > Use another method.
- Select Authentication app > Next.
- Open your authentication app and scan the barcode.
- Select Next in your Dashboard.
- Enter the verification code generated in your authentication app.
- Select Verify.
If the QR code is not scanning from your authentication app, select Can’t scan the QR code? to manually enter a key code.
Enable two-step verification for team members
In addition to setting up two-step verification for yourself, you can set up two-step verification for team members on their own devices. Each time they sign in, they need their passcode and a verification code.
When you enable this setting:
Existing team members will receive an email with instructions on how to complete the setup. If team members don’t enable two-step verification after reading the email, they’ll be required to do so the next time they sign in to their Square account.
Any new team members you add will see a two-step verification setup when they create a new team member account.
To enable two-step verification for team members:
Sign in to your Square Dashboard and select Settings > Account & Settings > My business > Security.
Under Business two-step verification, toggle on Two-step verification for team members.
Add more two-step verification phone numbers
Once you enable two-step verification, you can add additional phone numbers or a different authentication app to access your Square account. To do so:
Sign in to your Square Dashboard and select Settings > Account & Settings > Personal Information > Sign in and security.
Under Two-step verification, select Manage two-step verification.
To add a new verified phone number to your account, select Add phone number and continue through the verification process.
Disable two-step verification
For account security, we recommend keeping two-step verification enabled on your account to help prevent fraud and unauthorized activity.
If you have enabled two-step verification for team members, you need to disable it first. To disable two-step verification for your team:
Sign in to your Square Dashboard and select Settings > Account & Settings > My business > Security.
For Business two-step verification, toggle off Two-step verification for team members.
To disable two-step verification for your business:
Sign in to your Square Dashboard and select Settings > Account & Settings > Personal Information > Sign in and security.
Under Two-step verification, click Manage two-step verification.
To remove a verified phone number, select Remove.
To disable two-step verification for your account, select Turn off two-step verification.
Enter the verification code you received via SMS message, voice call, or on your authentication app, then select Verify.
Select Turn off to confirm.