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Can't activate two-step-authentication

  • 20 replies
  • 4 have this problem
  • 41 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

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I try to add the two-step-authentication to my account, but when I scan the QR-code and enter the generated security code I get the error message "two-step-authentication required"; so it tells me I have to enable two-step-authentication before I can enable two-step-authentication?

I try to add the two-step-authentication to my account, but when I scan the QR-code and enter the generated security code I get the error message "two-step-authentication required"; so it tells me I have to enable two-step-authentication before I can enable two-step-authentication?

All Replies (20)

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Please ignore emmahelp506's post and don't call that number   -   it's a scam !

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I thought so and already reported it :)

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Anthesnatidis said

I thought so and already reported it :)

Good for you - well done  !

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Hello Anthesnatidis,

This Article will Surely help you.

Secure your Mozilla account with two-step authentication

Thank You.

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No, sadly that does not help me. Step 6 is the problem: When I scan the QR code and enter it, I get an error message saying I have to enable two-step-authentication first.

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Do you possibly already have enabled 2FA ?

Can you login via this website?

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I can login, but I have not enabled 2FA before

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When you enable 2FA then you get a QR code that you need to scan with an Authenticator app that generates a 6-digit code that you need to enter to confirm that 2FA is working.

How far do you get ?

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Two-step authentication adds extra security by making it harder for someone else to log in to your account, especially if they steal your password.

When you enable two-step authentication, when someone attempts to log in to your account with your password, Firefox will also ask for a verification code from an authentication application for proof that it’s really you.

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cor-el said

When you enable 2FA then you get a QR code that you need to scan with an Authenticator app that generates a 6-digit code that you need to enter to confirm that 2FA is working. How far do you get ?

Step 6 is the problem: When I scan the QR code and enter it, I get an error message saying I have to enable two-step-authentication first.

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Hello,

I have a similar issue to the OP. Didn't want to start a new topic. So, I'll ask here.

I've been trying to activate the Two Factor Authentication on my FF account without success for over a week now. I've tried using the two Authenticator apps (Winauth & Authy) as suggested on your site and a third party one. But, It says invalid two-step authentication code every time across all three apps. The only one occasion it worked with Winauth, it reset itself upon a reload of the page saying Authentication disabled and repeats the failure message, thereafter.

OS: Windows 10 1909

FF: 77.0.1 (64-bit)

Any workaround is appreciated.

Modified by BRAC

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Are you sure you have the correct time in the authenticator apps ?
Can you try another internet time service?

Does this TOTP feature work with other websites ?

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cor-el said

Are you sure you have the correct time in the authenticator apps ?
Can you try another internet time service? Does this TOTP feature work with other websites ?

I don't see an option to manually tinker with time settings in any of the apps. So, not sure how it's done.

Tried a different time service but still no luck, although I did notice the Windows time service isn't running and the tweak fields are all grayed out. A manual update fails with an error. I did try a fix (reset of the Time service) suggested on the web via CMD but it says access denied at which point I gave up. The system Time and Date itself is accurate and haven't noticed any issue.

Haven't tried any other sites yet because I'm fairly new to TFA. The only other site where I have TFA enabled is my Microsoft account which works albeit with a different App.

Modified by BRAC

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Just a heads up on the issue.

It turns out the problem was down to wrong system time (as you said). Mine was off by 2 minutes and I never realized that. The authenticator apps now work without a hitch until maybe it happens again because the underlying issue with win32 time service itself is unaddressed. The system time hasn't synced in well over a year...That's for another forum I guess.

Anyway thanks for your help @cor-el

Modified by BRAC

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BRAC said

Just a heads up on the issue. It turns out the problem was down to wrong system time (as you said). Mine was off by 2 minutes and I never realized that. The authenticator apps now work without a hitch until maybe it happens again because the underlying issue with win32 time service itself is unaddressed. The system time hasn't synced in well over a year...That's for another forum I guess. Anyway thanks for your help @cor-el

I have this same problem as well. I just don't see any way to improve the accuracy of my time settings. Both my phone and my computer show the same minute, but I have no idea how to get them on the same second. Authy does not have any place I could find to make any time adjustments. This is the only time Authy has given me any issue. Any advice is appreciated.

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ciresmis said

I have this same problem as well. I just don't see any way to improve the accuracy of my time settings. Both my phone and my computer show the same minute, but I have no idea how to get them on the same second. Authy does not have any place I could find to make any time adjustments. This is the only time Authy has given me any issue. Any advice is appreciated.

You need to manually adjust the time in Windows (Control Panel>Time & Date) not the App. Or, if you have Windows auto time-sync enabled that should do too but given your time's off the internet time, the Windows time service is likely not running or is messed up as in my case.

There are utilities (nistime-32bit) on the web that can do the sync on your behalf on a schedule.

Modified by BRAC

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I don't know. Authy works with other programs just fine. I eventually installed another authenticator and it worked. So I have Authy for the rest of my needs and Auth Plus 1.5.2 for Firefox. That'll have to do for now. You cannot change the time in Authy, so the time I was changing was in Windows Date & Time. It just will not allow you to change it to the nearest second, which is the only thing I could think of if this time thing was the real issue. Thanks for the suggestions.

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I didn't want to start another topic for this.

I'm having trouble getting 2FA to work with Firefox. I downloaded Authy on my iPhone then I went to my Firefox account page and enabled 2FA. I scanned the QR code and Authy generated the code but when I put it in I got invalid two-step authentication code. Both my iPhone and Win10 laptop's date and time settings are set to automatic.

Has anyone else have this problem and been able to fix it?

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There are several authenticator extensions available for Firefox, so you can compare the TOTP code they generate with the code the iPhone app generates.