---
title: "Why do I need 2FA or a passkey to approve a payout?"
description: "Approving a payout releases real money, so it needs a second factor — a 2FA code or a passkey. The approval is tied to that exact amount and destination, so it can't be altered afterward."
url: "/docs/payouts/why-do-i-need-2fa-or-a-passkey-to-approve-a-payout/"
category: "Payouts"
---

Approving a payout **releases real money to a bank account**, so it asks for a second factor — a **2FA code or a passkey** — on top of being signed in. This is a deliberate safeguard: even if someone got into an account, they couldn't send money out without that second factor.

## The approval is bound to the payout

When you approve, the second factor is tied to that **exact amount and destination**. That means the approval can't be quietly reused or altered — if the amount or the receiving account changed, the approval wouldn't be valid. You're approving that specific payout, not payouts in general.

## What you'll do

1. Open the payout waiting for approval.
2. Confirm the amount and destination shown.
3. Complete the second factor — enter your 2FA code, or use your passkey.
4. The payout is released and moves to processing.

If you haven't set up a second factor yet, see [How do I set up two-factor authentication or a passkey?](/docs/account-and-team/how-do-i-set-up-two-factor-authentication-or-a-passkey/)

## Related

- [Why is my payout pending or on hold?](/docs/payouts/why-is-my-payout-pending-or-on-hold/)