Two factor authentification

[pfpimenta]

Hi everyone,

I am trying to apply for the GitHub Education, but I received an email saying that I need to complete my GitHub billing information (which I did) and also add "secure" my GitHub account with two-factor authentication (which I won't do). I refuse to need to use my cellphone in order to log into a code repository. I had that once and it was horrible, so I removed it. The phone has nothing to do with my work or coding projects. What if I don't have access to my phone at the moment, or if it is out of battery? Then I cannot commit my code? Nonsense. If I choose that a password is enough, it is my choice. It makes no sense to impose a "security" measure.

Is there a way to avoid two-factor authentication?

Thank you!

[ganapathijahnavi]

For GitHub Education benefits, two-factor authentication (2FA) is mandatory. There isn’t a way to bypass it if you want access to the Student Developer Pack. That requirement isn’t about convenience , it’s about protecting accounts that receive elevated benefits and access. Education accounts are frequently targeted for abuse, which is why GitHub enforces stronger security standards.
That said, 2FA does not require a phone number or SMS.
You can use:

1. An authenticator app (like Authy, Microsoft Authenticator, etc.)
2. A hardware security key (e.g., YubiKey)
3. Recovery codes as a backup
4. Passkeys (on supported devices)

If you’re concerned about losing phone access, you can:

1. Save recovery codes offline
2. Register multiple authentication methods
3. Use a hardware key that doesn’t rely on battery or cellular service

But if you choose not to enable 2FA at all, GitHub Education benefits won’t be approved. There’s no alternative path around that requirement.