Set Up Google Authenticator

Before You Start

Here are some things to know before you begin this process.

• You'll need to download the Google Authenticator app for your Apple or Android device. You don't need a Google account to use it.
• You will always need your mobile device to generate the passcode. There isn't a way to generate a passcode on your laptop or desktop computer.
• Save your MailChimp backup code offline or on a separate device. You'll need the backup code to log in to MailChimp if you ever lose, restore, or damage your device.
• We strongly recommend you verify a phone number in your account. If you switch mobile devices and don't have your Google Authenticator backup code, you can recover your code via SMS text to a verified phone number.
• Make sure your mobile device’s time is automatically set. If your device's time is set manually, the new passcodes that are generated every 30 seconds by Google Authenticator and MailChimp could be out of sync and result in a login error.

How It Works

Two-factor authentication requires two forms of identification to gain access to an account. With two-factor authentication enabled in MailChimp, you need your MailChimp login credentials and a passcode.

The passcode is generated from two numbers: a permanent one and a random one. The permanent, unique number is stored in MailChimp and on your mobile device when you set up Google Authenticator. MailChimp and the Google Authenticator app then use this code in combination with another constantly changing value to generate your temporary six-digit passcode that you'll use to log in to MailChimp. If the passcodes in MailChimp and Google Authenticator are the same, you're granted access to your account.

Because the unique code that Google Authenticator uses is stored on your mobile device, there isn't a way to generate a passcode without your device.

Set Up Google Authenticator

After you download the Google Authenticator app for your Apple or Android device, you can connect your MailChimp account to Google Authenticator.

Owner, Admin, and Manager user types set up Google Authenticator from the Security page in their account, while Authors and Viewers should start from the Profile page.

To set up Google Authenticator for your account login, follow the steps below.

Set Up for Owners, Admins, and Managers

1. Click your profile name and choose Account.
   
2. Click the Settings drop-down menu and select Security.
   
3. In the Two-factor authentication section, click Enable under Verify identity via an authenticator app.
   
4. Review the steps in the Configure Google Authenticator pop-up modal to add your MailChimp account to Google Authenticator.
5. Save your MailChimp backup code offline or on a separate device. It's important to note that the backup code in step 3 of the Configure Google Authenticator modal is different from the code you use in step 2 to set up Google Authenticator, so make sure you save the correct code. You'll need the backup code to log in to MailChimp if you ever lose, restore, or damage your device.
6. Click Submit.
   
7. Under Enable Two Factor Authentication for these accounts, check the box for the account(s) that should require two-factor authentication on login, and click Save.
   
8. If you are the Owner or Admin, you’ll see the option to require two-factor authentication for particular user types. Choose the user types you want, and click Save.
   

When you log in to MailChimp from now on, you must provide the Google Authenticator passcode before you can access MailChimp.

To set up another device, click Configure Google Authenticator and repeat the steps above to connect your account to Google Authenticator on that device.

Set Up for Authors and Viewers

1. Click your profile name choose Profile.
   
2. In the Two-factor authentication section, click Google Authenticator Configuration.
   
3. Review the steps in the Configure Google Authenticator pop-up modal to connect your MailChimp account to Google Authenticator.
4. Save your MailChimp backup code offline or on a separate device. You'll need the backup code to log in to MailChimp if you ever lose or damage your device.
5. Click Submit.
   
6. Under Enable Two Factor Authentication for these accounts, check the box for the account(s) that should require two-factor authentication on login, and click Save.
   

When you log in to MailChimp from now on, you must provide the Google Authenticator passcode before you can access MailChimp.

To set up another device, click Google Authenticator Configuration and repeat the steps above to connect your account to Google Authenticator on that device.

Log In with Google Authenticator

After you set up Google Authenticator, you'll use Google Authenticator to generate a passcode each time you log in to your MailChimp account. To use Google Authenticator to log in to your account, follow the steps below.

1. Enter your MailChimp username and password on the MailChimp login screen, and click Log In.
   
2. Launch Google Authenticator on your connected mobile device to generate your random, temporary passcode.
3. Type the six-digit passcode into the passcode field in MailChimp. Click Log In.
   
   

Disconnect Google Authenticator

We strongly recommend that you use two-factor authentication to protect your account data. But if you no longer want to use Google Authenticator to log in to your account, you can turn it off on the Security page in your account.

To disconnect Google Authenticator, follow the steps below.

1. Click your profile name and choose Account.
   
2. Click the Settings drop-down menu and choose Security.
   
3. Uncheck any boxes in the Enable Two Factor Authentication for these accounts and Make Two Factor Authentication required for the following user types sections, and click Save.