Twitter is one of the most influential social networking platforms on the Internet and is heavily focused on the safety of its users. It’s been including SMS-based verification of account logins on the platform for several years now, but it’s not the most reliable. Imagine that you are on the go and have no network or want to log into your account on a tablet PC, then SMS is clearly not the most useful option. Therefore, Twitter recently debuted the ability to use third-party authentication apps to verify your login attempt.
Third-party authentication apps are fairly simple to install and will come in handy for users who log in and out of their accounts regularly. So, if you’re one of those people and you’re planning to simplify the verification process, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide on how to set up a third-party authentication app. Follow the steps described below to complete the installation:
Step 1: Setting up Twitter Verification
Before you can install a third-party authentication app to verify your attempts to sign in to Twitter, you must enable sign-in verification for your account. This is standard two-factor authentication to help secure your account through SMS-based verification. Let’s take a look at how to proceed in this regard:
note: I set up login verification on my Redmi Note 3 running Twitter v7.28.0-alpha.636 and it worked just fine. The method works almost similarly on both Android and iOS.
1. Open the Twitter app (Free) On your Android device, swipe right to open the hamburger menu and Tap “Settings & privacy” at the bottom and go to “Account”.
2. Under the Accounts menu, you need to: Go to ‘Security’ and Tap the ‘Login Verification’ checkbox to start the process.
note: Before you can set up login verification, you need to add both your email address and phone number to your Twitter account.
3. You will first be informed of how the verification process works and you will be prompted to re-enter your password to continue the process. later you will necessary Verify your mobile phone number by entering the 6-digit code you receive in the same window..
4. When two factor authentication is enabled, You will need to provide a unique code every time you try to login to Twitter. You can even use the backup code generated by Twitter (as shown in the screenshot below) once this process is complete.
note: Remember to save your backup code in a safe place (email or hard copy) so you can use the same to access your Twitter account if you lose your device.
Upon a new login attempt, the login code will be sent to your message inbox. SMS is the default method for verification purposes. However, Twitter recently made a significant change to its two-factor authentication process and now allows you to use 3rd party authentication apps to verify your login attempts.
Step 2: Use Third-Party Authentication Apps
Now that you have enabled login verification for your Twitter account, you can follow the steps described below to delegate the verification process to a third-party application such as: authy, Google Authenticator or 1Password. Let’s check the process:
note: It is important that you enable the standard SMS-based two-factor authentication mentioned in Step 1 on your Twitter account before switching to a third-party authentication app. I use Google Authenticator for this purpose because it was once the easiest to use and is also compatible with Twitter.
1. If you have just completed the 2FA activation process, you are already in the login verification section of the Twitter settings menu. Now you will need faucet “mobile security app” checkbox It’s under the Text message option.
2. Now See a prompt with a ‘Start’ button, tap the same button and enter your password to start the installation process for a third party authentication app i.e. Google Authenticator (Free).
3. On the next screen, all you have to do is Tap the ‘Install now’ button and Twitter will automatically recognize any compatible third-party authentication app available on the device, and register account at the same.
note: If you are verifying on your desktop, you must scan the QR code displayed on your screen through any third-party authenticator mobile app. You then have to verify the same by entering a password shown in that app.
4. As you can see in the screenshots below, Google Authenticator opens with my Twitter credentials and you just have to tap “OK”. to add your account in the same way.
5. The final step requires you to: Verify the third-party authentication app by entering the same code on Twitter. And that’s it, that’s all. Your third-party authentication app is now set up and ready to use.
SEE ALSO: How to Identify Twitter Bots
Use Authentication Apps with Twitter Login Verification
Twitter is a home for conversations, and no user especially wants their privacy compromised out of the blue. Therefore, the added layer of security will give them some peace of mind, assuring that they cannot log into their account without a code. Third-party authentication apps simplify the sign-in process as you can enter the currently active code and don’t have to wait for an OTP to arrive in your message inbox.
So, are you planning to secure your Twitter app with a third-party authentication app? Share your experience with us in the comments below.
