Start Nintendo Account enrollment
- Sign in on the Nintendo Account website.
- Open Sign-in and security settings → 2-Step Verification → Edit.
- Choose 2-Step Verification setup and complete the identity checks shown.
The setting is unavailable for child accounts subject to verified parental-consent requirements.
Add Nintendo to Sign In
You can use Sign In, our authenticator app for codes on your iPhone.
- With the setup QR code on another screen, open Sign In and tap Add → Scan QR Code.
- Scan the code, review the account details, and tap Add Account.
- Enter the current six-digit code on Nintendo’s setup page and submit it. Save the backup codes, confirm that you have saved them, and finish with OK.
If the service offers a setup key, you can enter it manually. Otherwise, use a second screen for the QR code. In Sign In, choose Add → Enter Setup Key, set Service to Nintendo and Account to your account name, paste the secret into Key, then tap Add Account. Keep this key private.
Save and manage backup codes
Nintendo supplies ten single-use backup codes. Store them securely somewhere accessible without your phone. In the two-step settings, you can review your codes or generate replacements; replace your saved copy when you generate a new set.
If you cannot use your authenticator
Choose Use another method to verify your identity at sign-in and use a saved backup code. Nintendo’s recovery flow may offer an email check if you cannot find a backup code. Follow the available prompts; some options depend on whether you know your password.
Email and registered-phone checks may also appear when verifying account changes. They are distinct from the authenticator enrollment covered here. Contact Nintendo Support if the offered recovery methods fail.
If a code does not work
Make sure the Nintendo entry in Sign In matches the account you are using. Wait for a fresh code, then enter it before it changes. If fresh codes keep failing, check that your iPhone uses automatic date and time.
Keep a working sign-in session and your recovery information available while resolving the problem. Adding an entry to Sign In does not finish enrollment: the service must accept a code and confirm activation.