Nintendo Reminds Switch Users To Enable Two-Step Verification For Better Account Security

Have you ensured that your Nintendo Switch account and eShop funds are safe? In light of increasing credit card abuse and unauthorized purchases worldwide, you might want to heed this kind piece of advice.

Nintendo of America has reminded and encouraged its Switch users to enable Two-Step Verification on their Nintendo accounts. This ensures that all logins to the account will also have to pass through an authentication app on one’s personal device (e.g. smartphone) – thereby making it harder for hackers to maliciously access your account from a remote site.

You can find precise instructions to activate Two-Step Verification for yourself below, from Nintendo:

1. Go to the Nintendo Account website and sign in to your Nintendo Account.
2. Select Sign-in and security settings, then scroll down to 2-Step Verification and click Edit.
3. Click 2-Step Verification settings.
4. Click Send email to have a verification code sent to the email address on file.
   • If the email address is incorrect, click the Email address menu setting under User Info to change it.
5. Enter the verification code from the email, then Submit.
6. Install the Google Authenticator app on your smart device.
   • This is a free app, available through Google Play (Android) and the App Store (iOS).
7. Use the smart device app to scan the QR code displayed on your Nintendo Account screen.
8. A 6-digit verification code will appear on your smart device. Enter the verification code into the field under step 3 on the Nintendo Account screen, then Submit.
9. A list of backup codes will appear. Click Copy to copy all the codes, then paste them somewhere safe.
   • A backup code will be required to log in if you don’t have access to the Google Authenticator app. MAKE SURE TO KEEP THESE SOMEWHERE SAFE.
   • You can use these (one time each) if you do not have access to the Google Authenticator app.
10. Click I have saved the backup codes, then OK.
    • Once set, you can return to the 2-step verification settings section to review the backup codes and remove the 2-step restriction.