How to Set Up 2FA on Fortnite & Epic Games with an Authenticator App

Epic Games regularly gives away free in-game rewards (emotes, skins, wraps) to players who enable two-factor authentication on their accounts. But beyond the freebies, 2FA is essential — Fortnite accounts with rare skins are actively targeted by hackers, and account theft is a real problem in the gaming community.

This guide covers setting up 2FA using an authenticator app, which is the most secure option Epic offers.

Why Enable 2FA on Epic Games?

• Free stuff. Epic periodically runs promotions giving free cosmetics, emotes, and other rewards to accounts with 2FA enabled. The Boogie Down emote was one of the first — new rewards appear regularly.
• Required for gifting. You can’t send gifts to other Fortnite players unless 2FA is enabled on your account.
• Required for competitive play. Arena mode and tournaments require 2FA.
• Account protection. Fortnite accounts with rare or OG skins sell for hundreds (sometimes thousands) of dollars on black markets. Hackers use credential stuffing and phishing to steal them.

What You’ll Need

• An Epic Games account (the account you use to sign into Fortnite)
• A phone with an authenticator app (FactorCat, Google Authenticator, or any TOTP-compatible app)
• A computer or phone with a web browser

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Sign In to Your Epic Games Account

Go to epicgames.com and sign in. Click your display name (top-right) → Account.

Or go directly to epicgames.com/account/password.

2. Navigate to Security Settings

Click “Password & Security” in the left sidebar (or top menu on mobile).

Scroll down to the “Two-Factor Authentication” section.

3. Choose Authenticator App

You’ll see several options:

• Authenticator App (recommended)
• SMS Authentication
• Email Authentication

Click “Enable Authenticator App.”

4. Scan the QR Code

Epic Games will display a QR code and a manual entry key.

Open your authenticator app:

• In FactorCat: Tap + → Scan QR Code. Point your camera at the QR code. FactorCat will add it and label it “Epic Games” automatically.
• In other apps: Use the add/scan function.

If you can’t scan (e.g., you’re on the same device), use the manual key — copy and paste it into your authenticator app.

5. Enter the Verification Code

Type the current 6-digit code from your authenticator app into the Epic Games verification field. Click “Activate.”

6. Save Your Backup Codes

Epic Games will provide backup codes. Save them immediately:

• Download the file or screenshot the codes
• Store them separately from your phone (password manager, printed sheet, etc.)
• These codes are your only way back in if you lose your phone

7. Claim Your Rewards

After enabling 2FA, check Fortnite for any available rewards. Some promotions activate immediately; others appear in your locker within 24 hours. If there’s an active promotion, you’ll see a notification in-game.

I Set Up 2FA But Didn’t Get My Rewards

Common fixes:

• Wait up to 24 hours. Rewards don’t always appear instantly.
• Make sure you completed the full setup. Go back to epicgames.com/account/password and verify that 2FA shows as “On.”
• Check the right account. If you sign into Fortnite via PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, or a linked account, make sure you enabled 2FA on the Epic Games account that’s linked to that console account, not a separate one.
• Check if the promotion is active. Epic’s 2FA reward promotions are time-limited.

Day-to-Day Usage

When you sign into Epic Games on a new device or browser, you’ll enter your password and then a code from your authenticator app. On gaming consoles, you’re typically asked for the code only during the initial sign-in on that console.

Tips

• Don’t share your Epic Games login. “Account sharing” violates Epic’s terms and is also the #1 way accounts get stolen.
• Don’t buy or sell Fortnite accounts. Sellers often retain the original email and can recover the account after selling it.
• Use a unique password. If you use the same password on Epic Games as on another site that gets breached, attackers will try it on your Epic account automatically (credential stuffing).
• Beware “free V-Bucks” sites. They’re all scams designed to steal your login credentials.

Next Steps

Epic Games account secured. Protect your other accounts:

• Set up 2FA on Discord — if you’re in gaming communities, protect your Discord too
• Set up 2FA on Google — protect the email behind your Epic account
• Set up 2FA on Instagram — another frequent hijacking target

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Got 2FA on multiple gaming and social accounts? FactorCat manages all your authenticator tokens in one place, and auto-fills codes in your browser when you sign in. No more switching apps to find the right code.