Twitter to charge for two-factor authentication from March 20: How to use it without paying

Twitter has been rolling out a lot of new tools along with several restrictions as it brings in its paid subscription package Twitter Blue, which will limit the SMS two-factor authentication to just those users who have bought the monthly service.

The two-factor authentication is a type of MFA (multi-factor authentication) that provides an extra layer of security to your social accounts beyond username and password.

While this security feature was available on Twitter for free, from March 20 it will only be accessible by Twitter Blue subscribers.


Those who do not have Twitter Blue subscription were notified about the new update and warned to remove the two-factor authentication by March 19 to avoid losing access to the micro-blogging platform completely.

Instead of only entering a password to log in, 2FA requires you to also enter a code or use a security key. This additional step helps make sure that you, and only you, can access your account.

"After 20 March 2023, we will no longer permit non-Twitter Blue subscribers to use text messages as a 2FA method. At that time, accounts with text message 2FA still enabled will have it disabled. Disabling text message 2FA does not automatically disassociate your phone number from your Twitter account," Twitter said in a statement.

Twitter will disable 2FA completely unless non-Blue users do not add a new authentication method. To avoid this, users can either use a security key or an authentication app to add a layer of protection for their accounts.

How To Switch From 2FA Settings:
If you do not wish to buy Twitter Blue but are afraid of losing your account or don't know how to log in without two-face authentication, then sweat not. It's pretty easy to switch from 2FA.

First, you need to open Twitter from your smartphone or through a website. Click on security and account access.

Now click on the Security option and then choose Two-factor authentication.

You will now get three options to choose from

• Text message - which uses your mobile phone to receive a text message with an authentication code to enter when you log in to Twitter.
• Authentication app - Which uses a mobile authentication app to get a verification code to enter every time you log in to Twitter.
• Security key - Which uses a security key that inserts into your computer or syncs to your mobile device when you log in to Twitter.

For authentication app log in, choose any authenticator app of your choice such as Google Authenticator or Microsoft. Then go to Twitter and follow the same sets mentioned above. Once you have chosen the app, enter your password and click Confirm.

In case you haven't confirmed your email with Twitter, the microblogging platform will send you an email with a confirmation code and a link that will redirect you back to the social network platform.

For a security key, you need a physical authentication key such as YubiKey but make sure it supports your browser such as Chrome, Safari, Firefox etc. Now go to Twitter and follow the same mentioned instructions and click on Security Key.

Now Twitter will ask for a password, if you haven't confirmed your email with Twitter, you'll get an email with a code and a link that will redirect you back to the site. Once you have read the instructions and moved forward, then either insert the key into the USB port of your computer or sync it with Bluetooth or NFC.

Once your security key is set up, it will appear under Two-factor authentication > Manage security keys.