Tag: two step authentication

Dropbox is a very important tool if you are relying on the cloud storage services for everything from saving your files, saving your notes, utilizing the convenience of being able to access the data from anywhere when you travel. But again, it’s a very critical tool and every care must be taken to ensure only you get to access your account in the safest method available.

Today, much like my related articles on Facebook and Twitter, I’m talking about how you can enable an extra layer to your login process and enable Two-step authentication for your Dropbox account.

So let’s see how it’s done.

1. Login to your Dropbox account, click on your profile on top-right of the page and select ‘Settings’.
2. The profile settings page will open up. Click on the third tab ‘Security’ to access and edit the Security settings.

• Here you can edit your account password, view your connected devices and open sessions across all your devices to make sure you can identify all the listed items there, as well as enable or disable the two-step authentication to your Dropbox account.
• If you are simply logging in with your password, the Two-step authentication status will be ‘Disabled’. So click on ‘Click to enable’ to start the setup process.
• Read through and click ‘Get Started’ to get to the next screen.
• Enter your ‘Dropbox’ account password, not your email password at this screen to proceed further.

• There are two options here – you can set this up to receive the code via text messages on your mobile, or to receive the code via the approved Authenticator apps. The below are the approved apps that can be used for authenticating the Dropbox account.
  • Google Authenticator
  • Duo Mobile
  • Amazon AWS MFA
  • Windows Phone Authenticator app

Using Text Messages

• Select the option ‘using text messages’, and click Next.
• Select your country code and enter your mobile number, and click ‘Next’.

• A security code will be sent to your mobile number for verification. Enter the code received, and click Next.

• Once verified, you will need to provide a backup mobile number as well in case if you are unable to reach your primary number at the time of login. Enter the backup number details and click Next.

• There won’t be any verification process for the backup mobile number. The two-step authentication is now ready and as a final step you will receive a list of 10 emergency codes which you can use if you are unable to provide the security code via both the registered mobile numbers. Note these numbers down to a secure place to access in case of an emergency. Once done, click ‘Enable two-step authentication’ to finish.

• A final confirmation screen will appear, click Done.

• The two-step verification status will also change to ‘Enabled’, displaying the type of authentication you chose and the mobile numbers that will be used to verify your login.

Using Authenticator App (I used Google Authenticator app)

• Select the option ‘Use a mobile app’ and click Next.
• A QR code will appear which you need to scan using your Authenticator app. If for some reason your phone’s camera is not functioning well, click on the link ‘enter your secret key manually’ to access the secret key text.

• Open up the Authenticator app from your phone, proceed to add a new account and choose either ‘Scan the code’ or ‘Enter text manually’, depending on the option you chose at previous step.
• Once scanned/entered, the authenticator app will complete the account setup for Dropbox and will display a six-digit secure code that expires every 30 seconds.
• Return to the setup screen in Dropbox website and click Next.
• Enter the six-digit code that appears in the authenticator app, to complete the account verification.

• Once done, you will be prompted to enter a backup mobile number to receive codes in case your authenticator app is not working.

• Once done, a set of 10 Emergency codes will be displayed to be used in situations where you are unable to access neither your app nor your mobile number. Note it down to a secure place and click Next.
• Click on ‘enable two-step authentication’ to finish the set up process.
• The two-step verification status will also change to ‘Enabled’, displaying the type of authentication you chose and the mobile numbers that will be used to verify your login.

Note: Make sure you are able to access either your authenticator app (if that is set up), your registered mobile numbers or the emergency codes to be able to successfully authenticate you at the dropbox login screen. If you misplace all these and are unable to access neither of them, then there are only two other options available to somehow get your account back, apart from writing to the Dropbox support team.

1. If you have previously checked the option ‘Trust this Computer’ at the login time to avoid having to provide codes each time you login to your personal computer, go back to that PC and login without the two-step authentication process. Once done, be sure to access the settings page and update your security settings.
2. If you use the Dropbox desktop app in your PC, click on the globe icon on the taskbar from the Dropbox shortcut to login to your account without two-step verification.

The last resort is to reach out to the Dropbox support team and seek for alternate options to get your account back.

Hope this helped! Let me know your thoughts and questions in the comments below.

Have a nice day!