2 Easy Methods to Disable Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator
There may come a time when you need to disable the Steam Guard mobile authenticator on your phone.
Whether you're having trouble logging in, the 2FA code isn't working, or you're switching devices, this article will guide you through the steps to disable and remove the Steam Guard mobile authenticator.
What is the Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator?
One component of the Steam Mobile App that gives your Steam account an extra layer of security is the Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator. Each time you connect into your Steam account, the authenticator creates a code that you must enter. The code is unguessable, can only be used once, and changes every 30 seconds.
This method, also known as two-factor authentication, is more secure than using just your password and username.
Additionally, the Steam Mobile App has a QR code sign-in option that lets you log in without entering your password or user name. The procedure uses the 2FA credentials that are safely stored in your phone app to authenticate you to Steam using your mobile device.
It is highly recommended by Valve to add a phone number to your account, since this facilitates a far simpler account recovery in the event that you lose access.
The authenticator does not require an Internet connection to function, but your phone must be aware of the current time.
Disable Steam Guard via Mobile App
One of the simplest ways to remove the Steam Guard mobile authenticator is through the Steam mobile app. Download it from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, and follow these steps:
- Open the Steam app on your phone and go to the Steam Guard tab.
- Tap the Settings icon (Gear Icon) and select Remove Authenticator.
- On the next screen, click the Remove authenticator button, and confirm your decision by tapping Remove.
- Finally, tap Done, and the two-factor authentication on Steam will be disabled.
Tip: If you're experiencing slow download speed on Steam, check out our guide on how to fix it.
Disable Steam Guard via Desktop App
Another method to remove the 2FA from your Steam account is by using the desktop version of the Steam app. Here's a step-by-step guide:
- Open the Steam app and click on the Steam tab in the top left corner, then select Settings.
- Under the Account section, click “Manage Steam Guard Account Security.”
- Click the Remove Authenticator button.
- If you've lost your phone or uninstalled the Steam mobile app, choose the “I no longer have access to my Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator” option.
- Select the “Remove my Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator using my recovery code” option.
- Enter the Steam Guard recovery code and click the Use recovery code button.
That's it! You've successfully removed the 2-factor authenticator from your Steam account.
How to Remove 2FA without Steam Guard Recovery Code
If your phone is broken, stolen, or no longer functional, don't panic. You can still disable the Steam Guard mobile authenticator without the recovery code. Here's what to do:
- Go to Steam Settings and click on the Manage Steam Guard Account Security option in the Account tab.
- Click the Remove Authenticator button and select “I no longer have access to my Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator.”
- Choose the “I no longer have access to my recovery code” option.
- Select the “Text an account verification code to my phone number…” option.
- Enter the verification code you received on your mobile number and click Continue.
- On the next page, select the option that says “Email an account verification code to…“
- Enter the verification code you received on your email associated with your Steam ID.
- Finally, click on the Remove Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator button, and you will be logged out of your Steam account.
To confirm the removal, log back into Steam, and you will no longer see mobile authentication settings.
Tip: If you're having trouble closing a Steam game, check out our fixes for that.
While there may be reasons why you want to disable two-factor authentication on Steam, we strongly recommend keeping mobile authentication enabled to ensure the security of your Steam account.
Before you go, check out our in-depth comparison between the Microsoft Store and Steam.
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