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StudentAid.gov 2FA: how to set up an authenticator app for your Federal Student Aid account

By the Novaz team · Updated October 29, 2026
Novaz steps checked against version 1.0.5

On this page
  1. Add an authenticator app to an existing account
  2. Save your backup code
  3. Logging in afterwards
  4. If StudentAid.gov rejects your code
  5. Changing phones
  6. If you lose your authenticator
  7. Turning it off
  8. Official Federal Student Aid help

Your StudentAid.gov account, once called the FSA ID, is how you fill out and sign the FAFSA form, sign loan documents and track federal student loans. Parents or spouses who contribute to a FAFSA form need their own account (Federal Student Aid).

Two-step verification isn't optional here: StudentAid.gov asks for a one-time code each time you log in (Federal Student Aid). The code can come by email, by text message, from an authenticator app, or from a security key (Federal Student Aid). Federal Student Aid recommends adding an app, since its codes don't depend on cell service or email delivery (Federal Student Aid). This guide uses Authenticator App - Novaz on iPhone. Any authenticator app works the same way.

How we checked this guide: the StudentAid.gov steps come from Federal Student Aid's own help center, articles and account guide, linked below. StudentAid.gov blocks automated access, so we read archived copies of those pages on web.archive.org on October 20, 2026. The newest archived copy of some help articles is from 2025. We haven't tested the steps on a StudentAid.gov account, so a label may differ slightly. The Novaz steps are checked against the app, version 1.0.5.

Add an authenticator app to an existing account

  1. Log in at StudentAid.gov. Select your first name in the navigation bar at the top, then Settings (Federal Student Aid).
  2. Select Two-Step Verification, then Set Up an Authenticator App (Federal Student Aid). Another Federal Student Aid page says settings sections open with Edit, so you may see that button first.
  3. StudentAid.gov shows a QR code. In Novaz, tap +, then Scan QR code, and point the camera at it. If the QR code is on the same iPhone, take a screenshot, tap +, then Choose a photo. See scanning a QR code on the same iPhone.
  4. You can type a key instead. In Novaz, tap +, then Enter key manually, and enter it as the Setup key. See What is a 2FA setup key? Federal Student Aid doesn't say how often its codes change, so scanning is the safer choice.
  5. Type the six-digit code from Novaz on StudentAid.gov to finish.

Creating a new account? Near the end of sign-up you review your two-step verification methods, and Additional Verification Methods lets you add the app right away (Federal Student Aid).

Save your backup code

StudentAid.gov gives you one backup code when you create the account or turn on two-step verification, for when your other methods fail (Federal Student Aid). Novaz keys stay on your iPhone unless you make a Novaz backup, so keep this code on paper or in a password manager.

You can make a new one at any time: in Settings, under Two-Step Verification, select Generate a New Backup Code. Each code works once. An older article adds that using it switches two-step verification off until you turn it back on in settings (Federal Student Aid), so check your settings afterwards and save a new code. More in 2FA backup codes.

Logging in afterwards

At each login you choose which of your methods to use (Federal Student Aid). The app also works for unlocking your account, resetting your password or finding your username (Federal Student Aid).

If StudentAid.gov rejects your code

Federal Student Aid's troubleshooting page, updated in September 2026, says to make sure you're looking at the right app, and to try another method, such as email, if one fails (Federal Student Aid).

Then check the iPhone's clock: Settings > General > Date & Time > Set Automatically. Novaz warns you when the clock is 15 seconds or more off. Other causes are in Authenticator code not working?

Changing phones

Federal Student Aid's pages don't cover moving the app to a new phone. They only say you change methods in your two-step verification settings (Federal Student Aid), so do it while you can still log in, and keep your email and phone verified as a fallback. With a Novaz iCloud backup or backup file, you restore your accounts on the new iPhone and the codes keep working. Without one, the new phone needs a fresh setup. See How to transfer your authenticator app to a new iPhone.

If you lose your authenticator

Work through these in order:

  1. Another method. On the log-in screen, choose email, text message or a security key, if you've set one up (Federal Student Aid).
  2. Your backup code. After your username and password, select Help me access my account on the two-step verification screen (Federal Student Aid).
  3. Recovery with a photo ID. Select Recover my account with a photo ID at the bottom of the Two-Step Verification page. You get a text with a link to upload a clear photo of a driver's license, state ID card, passport or passport card. An expired ID or a name that doesn't match your account makes it fail (Federal Student Aid).
  4. The Federal Student Aid Information Center. If the online route fails or you can't get texts, call 1-800-433-3243 to open a manual recovery case (Federal Student Aid, Federal Student Aid).

You can't log in while a recovery case is pending. If you started recovery online, the email to reset your password should arrive within a few minutes. A case opened by phone can take up to 10 business days after you send your document (Federal Student Aid). Don't try a second account: you can only have one (Federal Student Aid). See Lost the phone with your authenticator app?

Turning it off

You can't. Federal Student Aid puts it plainly: "Once two-step verification is enabled, you won’t be able to turn it off." You can only change which methods you use (Federal Student Aid). To stop using Novaz, change your methods in settings first, then open the account in Novaz and tap Remove account.

Official Federal Student Aid help

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