Set up multifactor authentication (MFA) for a MyMassGov account

MyMassGov uses multifactor authentication (MFA) to keep user information safe and secure. Learn how to set up the MFA options you want for your account.

There are many ways to set up MFA. If you don’t have an authentication application, you can choose to have your verification codes sent to you by text message or phone call instead. If you don’t have a smartphone, you can receive your multifactor authentication codes by text message or phone call. 

Follow these steps to set up MFA:

You'll be asked to set up MFA when you first create your MyMassGov account.  If you don’t complete this process then, you’ll be required to do it the next time you log in.  

1. Create an account or log in to your existing account

2. When you reach the ‘Choose an Authentication Method’ screen, check the MFA option(s) you would like to use. You must choose at least one and can choose one, two, or all three. We recommend setting up at least two. You will set up each option separately.

• Authentication App*- Select this choice if you would like to verify using an authentication app
• Phone (Voice and Text Message) - Select this choice if you would like to verify using one phone number
• Secondary Phone (Voice and Text Message) -Select this choice if you would like to verify using two phone numbers

OPTION 1: To setup an authentication app:

Authentication App*

1. At the ‘Choose your authentication method’ screen select 'Authentication app*’
2. Click ‘Continue’
3. Link an authentication app- Use an authentication app you have installed or download a free one such as Google Authentication, Authy, or Microsoft Authenticator
4. Open your authentication app
5. Scan the QR code that appears under ‘Scan this QR code with your app’
6. If you have trouble scanning the code, click ‘Having trouble’ and enter the code all the way to the left in the ‘Enter your code’ field
7. Enter the code that appears in your authenticator app in the ‘Enter your code’ text field
8. Click ‘Continue’

OPTION 2: To set up a phone number:

Phone (Voice and Text Message)

1. At the ‘Choose your authentication method’ screen select ‘Phone (Voice and Text Messages)’
2. Click 'Continue'
3. At the ‘Link your phone number’ screen select the correct country code
4. Enter the phone number you’d like to use to receive a one-time code 
5. Click either ‘Text me’ or ‘Call me’
6. Enter the code sent to your phone
7. Click ‘Verify’
8. If you don’t receive a code or the code you received doesn’t work or expires, select ‘Get a new code’ and a new code will be sent to your phone

OPTION 3: To setup a second phone number:

Phone (Voice and Text Message)

1. At the ‘Choose your authentication method’ window select both ‘Phone (Voice and Text Message)’ and ‘Secondary Phone (Voice and Text Message)’
2. After successfully setting up your first phone number as an authentication method, you will see a screen to link a secondary number
3. Select the correct country code
4. Enter a different second phone number you’d like to use to receive a one-time code
5. Click ‘Continue’
6. Click either ‘Text me’ or ‘Call me’
7. Enter the code sent to your phone  
8. Click ‘Verify’
9. If the code you received does not work or expires, click ‘Get a new code’ and enter it

The next time you log in, you might be asked to verify your account using one of these methods. You’ll be able to choose which one you’d like to use.

If you set up verification by authentication app:

1. In the ‘Verify your account’ screen, click ‘Authentication app’
2. Enter the six-digit code you receive from your authentication app
3. Click ‘Continue’
4. You will be logged into your account

If you set up verification by phone number:

1. At the ‘Verify your account’ screen, click ‘Phone (Voice and Text Messages)'
2. At the next screen, you’ll see the phone number you entered to be used for verification*
3. If you set up two phone numbers, you’ll see both options here and can choose one
4. Click ‘Text Me’ or “Call Me’
5. Enter the six-digit code that was sent to the phone number shown. The code will expire in five minutes from the time it is sent.
6. Click ‘Verify’
7. If the code you received does not work or expires, click ‘Get a new code’ and enter it

*NOTE: If the phone number you see on the screen to be used for verification is not correct, start over and make sure you’re logging into the correct account