LinkedIn 2FA: How to Set Up an Authenticator App
Your LinkedIn account holds your professional profile, your connections and your messages, so it deserves more than a password. LinkedIn calls the feature two-factor authentication and recommends an authenticator app over text messages, which means Authenticator App - Novaz can supply your codes.
A hijacked LinkedIn account can be used to impersonate you and scam your contacts, so 2FA matters. Besides an authenticator app, LinkedIn also offers SMS text codes and a proprietary app. An authenticator app (TOTP) is usually the best balance of security and convenience — and it's safer than SMS codes, which can be intercepted through SIM-swap attacks.
2FA methods LinkedIn supports
- SMS text message
- Authenticator app (TOTP)
- Proprietary app
Before you start
- Your LinkedIn email or phone number and password (LinkedIn may ask for the password again during setup)
- Access to the email inbox on your LinkedIn account, or the LinkedIn app, in case LinkedIn asks you to confirm the change with an emailed code or an in-app approval
- Authenticator App - Novaz installed on your iPhone or iPad
- LinkedIn open on a computer, so the setup key is on a different screen from your phone
Part 1: Turn on 2FA in LinkedIn
- 1
Open Settings & Privacy
Sign in to LinkedIn, click the "Me" icon at the top of your homepage, and select "Settings & Privacy" from the dropdown.
- 2
Go to Two-factor authentication
Click "Sign in & security" on the left, then click "Two-factor authentication".
- 3
Click Set up and choose Authenticator App
Click "Set up", pick "Authenticator App" as the method and click "Continue". If LinkedIn asks for your password, a code sent to your email, or an approval in the LinkedIn app, complete that first.
- 4
Keep the secret key on screen
LinkedIn now shows a secret key for your account. Leave the page open while you add it to the app on your phone.
Part 2: Add LinkedIn to Authenticator App - Novaz
- 5
Add LinkedIn in Authenticator App - Novaz
Open Authenticator App - Novaz, tap the + button and choose to enter a setup key. Type the secret key exactly as LinkedIn shows it and use "LinkedIn" as the account name, then tap "Save". If LinkedIn also shows a QR code, you can scan it instead.
- 6
Note the 6-digit code
Authenticator App - Novaz now shows a 6-digit code for LinkedIn. It changes every 30 seconds, so have it ready for the next step.
Part 3: Confirm and finish
- 7
Enter the code to verify
Back on LinkedIn, type the 6-digit code from Authenticator App - Novaz to verify your device. Two-factor authentication is now on.
- 8
Know when LinkedIn will ask for a code
LinkedIn asks for your password and a code only when you sign in from a device it doesn't recognize. If you're signed in to the LinkedIn mobile app with notifications on, you may get a sign-in security prompt to approve instead.
- 9
Save a way to recover your account
If LinkedIn offers backup or recovery codes, download them or write them down and store them somewhere safe. They are how you get back into your account if you ever lose your phone. If it doesn't, check how LinkedIn recovers accounts before you need it.
If something goes wrong
- LinkedIn says the code is wrong: make sure your iPhone sets its date and time automatically (Settings > General > Date & Time), then enter the newest code.
- The code changed while you were typing: wait for the next one in Authenticator App - Novaz and enter that instead.
- The emailed confirmation code hasn't arrived: check your spam folder and the inbox of the email address on your LinkedIn account.
- Two-factor authentication is already on with text messages: open the same "Two-factor authentication" page and change the method to "Authenticator App".
Checked against LinkedIn's own help pages on September 25, 2026. Menu names can change, so these pages have the current path:
How to recover your LinkedIn account
LinkedIn's help pages don't describe backup codes, so plan your way back in before you need it. If you lose the phone with Authenticator App - Novaz but are still signed in to LinkedIn on another device, turn two-factor authentication off under Settings & Privacy > Sign in & security > Two-factor authentication, then set it up again on your new phone. If you aren't signed in anywhere, sign in with your email or phone number and password, choose "verify your identity" on the two-factor screen, and LinkedIn will ask for a photo of a government-issued ID before restoring access.
Frequently asked questions
- Which two-factor methods does LinkedIn offer?
- Text message (SMS) codes and an authenticator app. LinkedIn recommends the authenticator app, and Authenticator App - Novaz works for it.
- Will LinkedIn ask for a code every time I sign in?
- No. LinkedIn asks for a code when you sign in from a computer or device it doesn't recognize. On a phone where you're signed in to the LinkedIn app, it may send a sign-in security prompt instead.
- Can I switch from text messages to an authenticator app?
- Yes. Go to Settings & Privacy > Sign in & security > Two-factor authentication, change the method to "Authenticator App" and follow the setup steps above.
- What if I lose the phone with my LinkedIn codes?
- Turn two-factor authentication off from any device where you're still signed in, then set it up again. If you're signed out everywhere, choose "verify your identity" on the two-factor screen and LinkedIn will check a government-issued ID.
Generate your LinkedIn codes in Authenticator App - Novaz
Free, offline, and encrypted. One tap for every 6-digit code.
Get the appMore Social guides
Novaz is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by LinkedIn. LinkedIn and its logo are trademarks of their respective owner and are used here for identification only.



