Steps to set up Google Authenticator to enable 2FA:

Here is how you can set it up if you are looking for a reliable 2FA partner.

For the purpose of shedding light upon the whole process, I am using Binance as an example to set up the 2FA process. Please note that this is just an example and you can swap out the Binance exchange for the one that you are using. The procedure involved is quite standard and similar across all exchanges.

1. Go to Binance.com (for example) and log into your exchange account.

2. Enter your email ID and password and click on Login.

3. The website will now ask you to complete a small puzzle by dragging a piece of it through the slider. This is in place to make sure you are a human and not a bot.

4. Once you are on the homepage of the website, Hover over the profile icon in the top right panel.

5. Click on Account. This will take you to the account details and settings page of the exchange.

6. If Two Factor Authentication is not enabled on your account, the website will automatically give you a pop up as a recommendation to set it up.

7. As you can see, there are two ways in which you can enable 2FA – Google Authentication and SMS Authentication. Choose the type of 2FA that you want to go ahead with.

Note: It is recommended that you stick with Google Authentication for more security.

8. In case you don’t get this pop-up window, you can find the options sitting right on the accounts page in the right-hand panel.

9. Click on ‘Enable’ option in front of Google Authentication. This will take you to a page that shows the relevant steps to be followed in order to set it up.

10. As you can see, the first step is to download the App on your smartphone. Pick up your smartphone (I feel like I am spoon feeding you now) and go to the Play Store or App Store.

11. Download the Google Authenticator application on your smartphone and launch the app once it’s installed.

12. Click on ‘Begin’ to set up 2FA using Google Authenticator. The app will ask you to Add an Account by either Scanning a barcode or Entering a provided key.

13. To complete this step, go to your Binance account and click on ‘Next Step’.

14. You will now be able to see a QR code along with a key. Scan this QR code through the Google Authenticator app on your smartphone by selecting the option ‘Scan a barcode’. Alternatively, you can even enter the provided key.

15. Once the QR code has been scanned or the key has been approved, you will now be able to see your Binance account added to the list of accounts inside your Google Authenticator app.

16. The 6 digit code that you see is the 2nd factor for authentication that you will use while logging into your exchange account. This code is also dynamic as it keeps changing on a regular basis for increased security.

17. Once this is set up, click on ‘Next Step’ on your Binance Account.

18. The exchange will now ask you to write the 16-digit Key down on a piece of paper. You need to save this key somewhere safe as it will be useful in the case you lose your phone and need to reset the Google Authenticator and set it up on a new phone.

19. Click on ‘Next Step’ again. You will now be on the final page to Enable Google Authenticator. You will need to enter your Key (the one you’ve just saved in the previous step), Login password and 2FA Code on the Google Authenticator app to Enable Google Authentication.

20. Now every time you log in and enter your email and password, Binance will ask you to enter the Google Authentication code. All you need to do is simply launch the Google Authenticator app on your phone, enter the code that is given there accordingly in the field, and click on Submit.