How to setup Xero Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

For all of our clients currently using Xero cloud accounting software, an additional security process is being introduced by Xero to reduce the risk of security breaches and to ensure your information is kept secure. The new process being introduced is called Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).

MFA adds a second level of security when you log in to Xero by requiring you to authenticate using either push notifications or a code generated by an authenticator app.

The authentication process requires you to verify yourself using one of two ways:

1. If you have an IOS or Android smartphone or tablet you can use an authenticator app; or
2. if you don’t have an IOS or Android smartphone or tablet, you can install Authy or WinAuth (for Windows) on a laptop or desktop computer.

Please note you can only choose one of the two authentication processes above so you should choose the one most suitable for you. From our experience, even if you have an IOS or Android smartphone or tablet it is worth considering how reliable your mobile signal is (if not on WIFI) in your area as we have encountered issues where clients cannot authenticate due to poor signal.

1 - Using an authenticator app on an IOS or Android smartphone or tablet

See the following link to Xero’s YouTube guide:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPBBfycT7tg

2 – Using Authy or WinAuth (for Windows) on a laptop or desktop computer

See the following link to Xero’s YouTube guide for using Authy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHZJZS-l3_g

See the following link to Xero’s YouTube guide for using Google Authenticator:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4peeVyW9Ys

If you have any queries with regards to Xero MFA please contact Richard Proudlove via richardproudlove@scott-wilkinson.com or Alan Taylor via alantaylor@scott-wilkinson.com