Your Epic Games account covers Fortnite, Rocket League, Fall Guys, the Epic Games Store, and every free game you've claimed. Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) protects all of them at once — and unlocks Fortnite gifting plus free in-game rewards.
In This Guide
Free Rewards & Fortnite Gifting
Epic Games permanently requires 2FA to send or receive gifts in Fortnite — there's no way around it. Beyond security, enabling 2FA has historically unlocked exclusive rewards added directly to your locker. Check the Epic Games news page for current reward details.
The 2FA requirement also applies to Fortnite Creative and competitive tournaments — some events require 2FA to be eligible to earn prizes.
Method 1: Authenticator App (Recommended)
An authenticator app is the most secure option. It generates codes on your device that cannot be intercepted, even if your phone number is hijacked.
- Go to epicgames.com/account/password and log in
- Click Password & Security in the left sidebar
- Scroll down to Two-Factor Authentication
- Click Enable Authenticator App
- Epic will display a QR code and a manual entry key
- Open your authenticator app and scan the QR code, or paste the manual key
- Enter the 6-digit code shown in your app to confirm
- Save the backup codes displayed — store them securely
Method 2: Email Authentication
Epic will send a 6-digit code to your registered email each time you log in from a new device. This is easier to set up but slightly less secure if your email account is compromised.
- Go to epicgames.com/account → Password & Security
- Under Two-Factor Authentication, click Enable Email Authentication
- Epic will send a confirmation code to your email — enter it to activate
Make sure your email account also has 2FA enabled for the best protection.
Method 3: SMS Authentication
Epic can send codes via text message. SMS 2FA is better than no 2FA, but it's the weakest option — SIM swap attacks can intercept SMS codes. Use an authenticator app if possible.
- Go to epicgames.com/account → Password & Security
- Under Two-Factor Authentication, click Enable SMS Authentication
- Enter your phone number and verify with the SMS code Epic sends you
Backup Options
During authenticator app setup, Epic provides backup codes. Each code can be used once to log in if you lose access to your app.
- Save backup codes in a password manager (Bitwarden, 1Password)
- Store a printed copy somewhere physically secure
- You can regenerate backup codes from Account → Password & Security at any time
You can also have multiple 2FA methods active simultaneously — for example, both an authenticator app and email as a fallback.
Troubleshooting
I'm not receiving the Fortnite gifting option after enabling 2FA
Log out and back into Fortnite fully — the game needs to resync your account status. Also ensure both your account and your friend's account have 2FA enabled, and that you've been friends on Epic for at least 48 hours (this is a separate Epic requirement for gifting).
My authenticator code isn't accepted
Authenticator codes expire every 30 seconds. Make sure your phone's time is set to automatic/network time. If the clock is even slightly off, the code won't match what Epic's servers expect. On Android, go to Clock app settings and sync the time manually if automatic sync isn't working.
I lost access to my authenticator and have no backup codes
Contact Epic Games Support. You'll need to verify ownership of the account with details like your original email, linked payment methods, and console accounts. The process can take several days but Epic support is generally responsive.
I want to switch from email to authenticator app 2FA
Go to Account → Password & Security, disable the current email 2FA method, then enable the authenticator app option. You may need to enter an email code to confirm the change before the new method is set up.