Setting up push notification multi-factor authentication (MFA)

Push notification is a multi-factor authentication (MFA) method that enhances your ID.me account security by sending a notification through the ID.me Authenticator app when you sign in. This article explains how to set up push notification MFA.

Before you start

• Required app: To use push notifications, download the free ID.me Authenticator app from the App Store or Google Play Store. If the app is unavailable in your country, consider using other MFA methods like passkey or a code generator.
• Enable notifications: Ensure that push notifications are enabled for the ID.me Authenticator app.
• System requirements: Make sure your device meets the system requirements for the ID.me Authenticator app.
• MFA recommendation: While not all ID.me customers require MFA, we recommend setting it up to protect your account from scams and phishing attempts.

Set up push notification MFA

To set up push notification MFA:

1. When prompted, select Push Notification.
2. Select Text message or Email to receive a link to download and activate the ID.me Authenticator app. Enter your phone number or email, then select Continue. Keep the window open.
   
   
   Note: If you receive the link via email, open the link on the device where you will use the ID.me Authenticator app.
3. Select the activation link you received. This will open or prompt you to install the ID.me Authenticator app.
4. When prompted with a registration request in the app, select Yes to approve it and enable push notifications for MFA.
   
   Note: Make sure push notifications are enabled for the ID.me Authenticator app. If you didn’t receive the registration request, start over.

Add push notification as a secondary MFA method

If you already have another MFA method set up, you can add push notification MFA as an additional method:

1. Sign in to your ID.me account using your current MFA method.
2. In “My Account”, select Sign In & Security.
3. Next to push notification, select Set Up.
4. If prompted, authenticate using your existing MFA method.
5. Follow steps 2-4 from the Set up push notification MFA section above.

Sign in with push notification MFA

To sign in using push notifications MFA:

1. Sign in to your ID.me account with your email and password.
2. Select Push Notification for MFA.
3. Open the ID.me Authenticator app
   You will receive a push notification from the ID.me Authenticator app on your smartphone. Select the notification. If you don’t receive a notification, verify that push notifications are enabled for the ID.me Authenticator app.
4. Select Yes in the app to approve your sign-in.