Two-Step Verification FAQ

If you are an existing Seller Central user who has not enabled Two-Step Verification, you will be prompted to activate Two-Step Verification the next time you log in to Seller Central. Click “Enable Two-Step Verification” and follow the on-screen instructions.

You can also access the Advanced Security Settings page from the Retail site, which will take you through an identical experience.

• Two-Step Verification is tied to the login you use to access your Amazon accounts. If you use the same login for both your Amazon buyer and seller accounts, this process will protect both of them.
• If you haven’t already done so, Amazon recommends that you create individual logins with different email addresses, via User Permissions, for everyone accessing your seller account. Not doing so could pose a security risk for you in the future and could cause loss of access to anyone else using that particular login. See the Help topic Set user permissions for more information.
• If you already have individual seller logins for each user accessing your seller account, each account will need to enable Two-Step Verification separately.

For a step-by-step guide on enabling Two-Step Verification – See How to enable Two-Step Verification

Yes, all users accessing Seller Central must have Two-Step Verification enabled on their login to access their Seller Central account. Please note that Seller Support Associates do not have the ability to make exceptions for any Seller for this requirement.

While it is possible to disable Two-Step Verification via your Advanced Security Settings page, you will be unable to login to Seller Central until you re-enable it.

All users accessing Seller Central must have Two-Step Verification enabled on their login.

An authenticator app is a standalone software application that can be downloaded to a smartphone, mobile device (tablet, iPad, etc.), or your desktop computer and generates a random code which can be used for Two-Step Verification. Authenticator apps do not have access to your Amazon login.

Authenticator apps are recommended over other methods for receiving codes because there is no Internet connection required to generate the code, making them a great solution if you’re on vacation or any other situation where you are unable to receive text messages or voice calls.

Authenticator apps are available on most smart phones, mobile devices, and personal computers – just search for “authenticator app” in the following app stores:

Additionally, you can find a number of different types of authenticator apps available for sale and/or download, including browser-based extension or add-ons, desktop applications, and USB-based authentication devices.

For more information, see Use an authenticator app for Two-Step Verification.

After you have successfully accessed your account through the Two-Step Verification process, you can simplify future logins on computers and devices that you routinely use.

The next time you enter your code on your computer or device, tell us not to ask for a code on that device in the future by clicking the check box next to Don’t ask for codes on this device.

• Setting your browser to block the use of cookies
• Clearing your cache or deleting cookies (check your web browser settings)
• Updates to your PC, device, or apps on your device, including your web browsers
• Accessing Seller Central from a web browser than the one you used to add your trusted device
• Using a browser toolbar that affects browser settings
• Using anonymous browser mode or programs that obscure identity, including the use of proxy and VPN servers
• If you’ve used the seller mobile app, logging out of it might reset the trusted device status on your mobile device

Accessing Seller Central from different locations or networks (LAN, WAN, WLAN), or changes to your IP address. Having multiple users who use the same login credentials may increase these occurrences, so make sure that each person accessing your account has their own login credentials. See Set user permissions for more information.

Authenticator apps, SMS text, and phone calls are typically more secure methods than email. Due to the increasing number of cases where email accounts are compromised, Amazon has chosen to provide a higher level of protection for Sellers and does not support the use of email for sending Two-Step Verification codes.

The Two-Step Verification process requires you to enter your password, as well as a random code obtained from a device you have physical access to. If the code is sent through email, it can be accessed remotely, which bypasses the security benefit of the second step of verification.

Since Two-Step Verification is tied to the login of the individual accessing the account, there should be no impact to your account as long as everyone accessing it has their own user account/login. If you have multiple people who access your selling account using the same login credentials, Amazon recommends that you set up a unique user login for each person accessing your account. Sharing login credentials with multiple people:

1. Can create a security risk. If someone leaves your company/organization and has your login credentials, they would have access to your Selling account and the associated buying account, including any credit card or personal information available there.
2. Requires all users to have equal access to all devices. If the person who set up Two-Step Verification on the login used to access your Seller account isn’t in the office or reachable, everyone who accesses the account would need to have access to both the primary and backup methods for receiving your code; otherwise, all work on the account would need to stop until that person returns.

If you have multiple users who share the same user ID and password for Seller Central, we recommend setting up each user with secondary user permissions. For more information on how to do this, see Set user permissions. Once the secondary user permissions have been set up, these users will need to setup Two-Step Verification on their first login.

Yes. Two-Step Verification is applied to the login of the user accessing your Seller Central account. If you use the same login to access your buyer account, you will be required to enter your Two-Step Verification code when you log into the Amazon retail site. If you don't want to have Two-Step Verification on your buyer account, you can open a separate Amazon account for buying. However, we recommend using Two-Step Verification on all of your accounts because it can help protect them from unauthorized access.

Two-step verification might affect some connections from third parties using screen-scraping technology to sign in to your account via a username and password. We encourage you to explore whether Marketplace Web Service (MWS) or Reports in Seller Central can provide the functionality for which you use a third party.

In this scenario, the best solution is an authenticator app. Authenticator apps don't require cellular network coverage in order to generate a code.

For more information, see Use an authenticator app for Two-Step Verification.

If your phone is lost or stolen, contact your carrier immediately and ask them to block or suspend your line, until you can figure out what happened.

To gain access to your Seller account, try logging into Seller Central and click Didn’t receive the code? on the bottom of the Two-Step Verification page. Select your backup method for receiving your code.

If you don’t have a backup device and can't change your settings, you'll need to go through the Two-Step Verification Account Recovery process. This process requires you to submit documentation verifying your identity. Once verified (usually within 12 hours), Two-Step Verification will be disabled so you can log in. On your next login, you will be required to setup Two-Step Verification again, this time using devices that you have access to.

There are several things that you can do to ensure you always have access to your account:

1. Provide a reliable backup method when you enable Two-Step Verification. This way if you change your phone number or lose your cell phone, and forget to update your account, you will still have access.
2. Keep your advanced security settings up to date. To view your settings in Seller Central, click Settings > Login Settings > Advanced Security Settings > Edit . You’ll need to receive a code and validate it before you can make any changes.

Click the “Didn’t receive the code?” link on the webpage where it asks you to enter your code. This will list any back-up methods you designated when you set up your account. You can also choose to have a voice call to your cell phone in case the SMS text didn’t arrive.

If you don’t receive a code during registration, check that the phone number you provided is correct. Make sure the phone number includes a region code, and your cell phone can receive SMS text messages.

This is usually an issue with your browser settings and can be remedied by clearing your cache and cookies first.

If this doesn’t work, try requesting a code on your backup method by clicking the Didn’t receive the code? link on the Two-Step Verification page. This will list any back-up methods you designated when you set up your account. You can also choose to have a voice call to your cell phone in case the SMS text didn’t arrive.

If you are having an issue receiving a code during registration, make sure that the phone number you provided is correct. Make sure that the phone number includes a region code, and that your cell phone can receive SMS text messages.

If you can login to Seller Central without seeing a message saying that Two-Step Verification is a requirement, then you have Two-Step Verification enabled.

In Seller Central, go to Settings > Login Settings > Advanced Security Settings > Edit to view your settings. Click the Change link next to the item you want to change and follow the on-screen instructions to change and save your Two-Step Verification Settings.

You can also access your Two-Step Verifications settings on the Advanced Security Settings page on the Amazon Retail site.

More information

• About Two-Step Verification
• Use an authenticator app for Two-Step Verification
• Set up Two-Step Verification
• Signing in with Two-Step Verification
• Changing Two-Step Verification
• Two-Step Verification Account Recovery
• Change login settings