Epic makes two-factor authentication a condition for parts of Fortnite: its help pages say it is required to send gifts and to take part in Fortnite competitive events. Turning it on also unlocks the Boogie Down emote — and Save the World players get extra Armory and Backpack slots and a Legendary Troll Stash Llama. Beyond the rewards, it keeps your skins and V-Bucks safe from someone with your password.
Turn on two-factor authentication for Fortnite
Fortnite has no separate 2FA setting: it uses your Epic Games account, so the setup happens on epicgames.com, not in the game. Gifting also needs account level 2 or higher and a friend you have had for at least two days.
- Sign in at epicgames.com on your computer with the account you play Fortnite on, and open your “Account” page.
- Go to the “Password and security” section.
- Under “Two-Factor Authentication”, click “Set up” next to the authenticator app option.
- Epic shows the setup for the app. Leave it on the screen and add it to the extension as described below.
- Enter the code from the extension to finish. Epic shows the method as active and sends a confirmation email.
Add Fortnite to Authenticator
- Install 2FA Authenticator from the Chrome Web Store and pin it to the toolbar, so its icon is one click away.
- Leave the Fortnite page with the QR code open. Click the Authenticator icon, then “Add Account” → “QR Code” → “Scan QR from screen”.
- The account appears in the list with a six-digit code that changes every 30 seconds. Rename it if you like — the name is only for you.
- Go back to Fortnite and type the current code into the confirmation field. If it is about to expire, wait for the next one.
- Fortnite confirms that two-factor authentication is on. From now on it will ask for a code when you sign in — click the extension icon and copy it.
No QR code, or it will not scan? Look for the option to enter a key manually on Fortnite’s setup screen, copy the key, and add it in the extension with “Add Account” → “Manual” → “Secret Key”.
Get 2FA Authenticator for Chrome — freeKeep your Epic backup codes
When you turn on the authenticator app, Epic gives you eight-digit backup codes. Download or write them down and keep them away from this computer. If you ever lose the authenticator, the sign-in prompt has “Try another way”, where you can enter a backup code or verify by email instead.
The code is not accepted?
Almost always the computer’s clock. The codes are calculated from the current time, so a clock that is a minute off produces codes that look right and are refused. Turn on automatic date and time in your system settings — step-by-step for Windows, macOS and Linux.
If the clock is right, check the key itself: paste it into the TOTP code generator and compare the code with the one in the extension. If they differ, the key was copied wrong — add the account again.
Questions
- How do I get the Boogie Down emote?
- Turn on two-factor authentication on the Epic Games account you play Fortnite with, then sign in to Fortnite — Epic grants the emote as the 2FA reward.
- Why can’t I gift in Fortnite?
- Epic requires two-factor authentication to send gifts. Besides 2FA, your account must be level 2 or higher, the friend must have been on your list for at least two days, and you can send up to five gifts in 24 hours.
- Do I need a phone for Fortnite 2FA?
- No. Epic accepts any third-party authenticator app, and email codes too. The Authenticator extension generates the codes in Chrome on your computer — convenient when you play on PC or a console with no phone at hand.
- What if I get locked out of my Fortnite account?
- At the 2FA prompt choose “Try another way” and use email verification or a backup code. Once you are in, set the authenticator up again under “Password and security”. Keeping the extension’s automatic backups on means a reinstall does not lock you out.
Your codes, one click from the login page
Authenticator keeps your 2FA codes in the browser, on your device only — free, open source, no account and no phone needed. Local backups and optional password protection come built in.
Get 2FA Authenticator for Chrome — free