Do I need a phone for Vimeo two-factor authentication?

No. Vimeo names Google Authenticator and Authy, but any app that produces standard six-digit codes works. The Authenticator extension reads the QR code straight off the Vimeo page — or takes the code shown for manual entry — and generates the codes in Chrome.

Should I use Vimeo’s email codes or an authenticator app?

An authenticator app. Email codes can land in spam or arrive late, and anyone who gets into your inbox gets your Vimeo codes too. An authenticator makes the code on your own device, with no network at all.

Vimeo says I am locked out after too many attempts.

Vimeo blocks sign-in for 15 minutes after a series of failed attempts, and every new attempt restarts the wait — resetting the password does not help. Wait the 15 minutes, check the computer clock, and enter the current code.

Why does Vimeo say my code is wrong?

Usually the computer clock is off by a minute or more. Turn on automatic date and time and try the next code. If it still fails, ask for a code by email, then set the authenticator up again in Security Settings and add the new QR code.

Vimeo Authenticator App — Turn On Two-Factor Authentication

A Vimeo account holds your videos, their privacy settings and often a paid plan — and the showreels and client work on it are hard to replace. A stolen password is enough to delete them or make private ones public. Vimeo offers 2FA by email or by authenticator app; with the app, the code is made on your device instead of arriving in an inbox that may itself be the weak point.

Turn on two-factor authentication on Vimeo

Vimeo has one 2FA setting with three choices: email, authenticator, or none. Choosing the authenticator replaces email codes — although at sign-in Vimeo still lets you ask for a code by email instead.

Sign in at vimeo.com on your computer.
Open your “Security Settings” (vimeo.com/settings/account/security).
Select “2FA” and choose “Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) - Authenticator”.
A window opens with setup instructions. Skip the download step — the extension is the authenticator app.
Vimeo shows a QR code. Leave it on the screen and add it to the extension as described below — then verify with the six-digit code and save settings.

Vimeo’s own instructions

Add Vimeo 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 Vimeo 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 Vimeo and type the current code into the confirmation field. If it is about to expire, wait for the next one.
Vimeo 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 Vimeo’s setup screen, copy the key, and add it in the extension with “Add Account” → “Manual” → “Secret Key”.

Get 2FA Authenticator for Chrome — free

Keep a way back into Vimeo

Vimeo’s help does not describe backup codes. Its way back is your email: at the code prompt you can ask for a code to be emailed instead. So keep the email address on your Vimeo account current and well protected — with 2FA of its own — and keep the extension’s automatic backups on.

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

Do I need a phone for Vimeo two-factor authentication?: No. Vimeo names Google Authenticator and Authy, but any app that produces standard six-digit codes works. The Authenticator extension reads the QR code straight off the Vimeo page — or takes the code shown for manual entry — and generates the codes in Chrome.
Should I use Vimeo’s email codes or an authenticator app?: An authenticator app. Email codes can land in spam or arrive late, and anyone who gets into your inbox gets your Vimeo codes too. An authenticator makes the code on your own device, with no network at all.
Vimeo says I am locked out after too many attempts.: Vimeo blocks sign-in for 15 minutes after a series of failed attempts, and every new attempt restarts the wait — resetting the password does not help. Wait the 15 minutes, check the computer clock, and enter the current code.
Why does Vimeo say my code is wrong?: Usually the computer clock is off by a minute or more. Turn on automatic date and time and try the next code. If it still fails, ask for a code by email, then set the authenticator up again in Security Settings and add the new QR code.

Your codes, one click from the login page

Authenticator keeps your 2FA codes in the browser, on your device only — free to use, open source, no account and no phone needed. Local backups and optional password protection come built in.