Set up MFA with WhatsApp or text message
Learn how to set up Text message MFA with either WhatsApp or SMS on Trade Me.
Secure your Trade Me account by receiving a unique code via WhatsApp or text message each time you log in.
About text message authentication
When you log in, we send a code to your mobile phone via WhatsApp or text message (SMS). You must enter this code to access your account, which helps keep your details safe.
Learn more about other authentication methods.
Set up text message authentication
To set up text message authentication on the Trade Me website:
1. Go to My Trade Me.
3. Under ‘Update my details’, select Manage multi-factor authentication.
4. Open a new tab in your browser or use your email app to find a confirmation code in your inbox. Don’t refresh trademe.co.nz or completely close your Trade Me app to check your email— if you do, we'll send another code.
5. Enter the code from your email.
6. Under 'Add more backups' select Text message.
7. Enter your phone number and select Continue.
8. We'll automatically send a code to your number via WhatsApp. If the message doesn't come through, make sure to check your Archived folder.
If you don't have WhatsApp or prefer a SMS text message, select Send an SMS instead.
9. Enter the code from WhatsApp or SMS.
10. Select Continue.
Next time you log in, we'll send a code to your phone via WhatsApp or SMS.
To set up text message authentication on the iOS app:
1. Go to My Trade Me.
2. Select profile-framed Profile & Account.
3. Select Settings.
4. Select multi-factor authentication.
5. Open a new tab in your browser or use your email app to find a confirmation code in your inbox.
6. Head back to the app and enter the code from your email.
7. Under 'Add more backups' select Text message.
8. Enter your phone number and select Continue.
9. We'll automatically send a code to your number via WhatsApp. If the message doesn't come through, make sure to check your Archived folder. If you don't have WhatsApp or prefer a SMS text message, select Send an SMS instead.
10. Select Continue.
To set up text message authentication on the Android app:
1. Go to My Trade Me.
2. Select profile-framed Profile & Account.
3. Select Settings.
4. Select multi-factor authentication.
5. Open a new tab in your browser or use your email app to find a confirmation code in your inbox.
6. Head back to the app and enter the code from your email.
7. Under 'Add more backups' select Text message.
8. Enter your phone number and select Continue.
9. We'll automatically send a code to your number via WhatsApp. If the message doesn't come through, make sure to check your Archived folder. If you don't have WhatsApp or prefer a SMS text message, select Send an SMS instead.
10. Select Continue.
Edit text message authentication settings
If your phone number changes, you can update your MFA settings so you don't get locked out.
To change your text message authentication phone number on the Trade Me website:
1. Go to My Trade Me.
2. Under ‘Update my details’, select Manage multi-factor authentication.
3. Select Text message.
4. Select edit Edit.
5. Enter your new phone number and select Continue.
6. Enter the code from WhatsApp or SMS to confirm the changes.
To change your text message authentication phone number on the iOS app:
1. Go to My Trade Me.
2. Select profile-framed Profile & Account.
3. Select Settings.
4. Select multi-factor authentication.
5. Select Text message.
6. Select edit Edit.
7. Enter your new phone number and select Continue.
8. Enter the code from WhatsApp or SMS to confirm the changes.
To change your text message authentication phone number on the Android app:
1. Go to My Trade Me.
2. Select profile-framed Profile & Account.
3. Select Settings.
4. Select multi-factor authentication.
5. Select Text message.
6. Select edit Edit.
7. Enter your new phone number and select Continue.
8. Enter the code from WhatsApp or SMS to confirm the changes.
Remove text message authentication settings
You can switch to a different method (like an authenticator app) or turn off text message authentication entirely.
To turn off text message authentication:
1. Go to My Trade Me.
2. Under ‘Update my details’, select Manage multi-factor authentication.
3. Select Text message.
4. Select Remove Text message authentication.
5. Select Continue to confirm.
To remove your passkey on the iOS app:
1. Go to My Trade Me.
2. Select profile-framed Profile & Account.
3. Select Settings.
4. Select multi-factor authentication.
5. Select Text message.
6. Select Remove Text message authentication.
7. Select Continue to confirm.
To remove your passkey on the Android app:
1. Go to My Trade Me.
2. Select profile-framed Profile & Account.
3. Select Settings.
4. Select multi-factor authentication.
5. Select Text message.
6. Select Remove Text message authentication.
7. Select Continue to confirm.