---
title: Authentication Methods
description: Set up authentication methods to enhance security and ensure that only the right people can access digital credentials. Optional and configurable based on your social media settings.
---

[Skip to content](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/authentication-methods#main-content)

- [English](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/authentication-methods)
- [Deutsch](https://help.virtualbadge.io/de/article/authentifizierungsmethoden)

English

Show submenu for translations

[Contact Support](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en)

[![Virtualbadge.io White-2](https://help.virtualbadge.io/hs-fs/hubfs/logo/Virtualbadge.io%20White-2.png?width=300&height=40&name=Virtualbadge.io%20White-2.png)](https://www.virtualbadge.io/)

Open main navigation

Close main navigation

- - [English](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/authentication-methods)
    - [Deutsch](https://help.virtualbadge.io/de/article/authentifizierungsmethoden)

  English
  
  Show submenu for translations
- [Contact Support](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/kb-tickets/new)
- [Go to Admin Dashboard](https://admin.virtualbadge.io/)

[Go to Admin Dashboard](https://admin.virtualbadge.io/)

 Hello! How can we help you?

- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

1. [Help Articles Virtualbadge.io](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article?hsLang=en)
2. [Features](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/features?hsLang=en)
3. [Security & Verification](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/features?hsLang=en#security-verification)

# Authentication Methods

## Managing Recipient Access and Verification

Authentication methods are added before obtaining credentials to ensure that only authorized individuals can access sensitive information. This process enhances security by verifying the identity of the recipient, thereby protecting their credentials from unauthorized access.

This step is optional. Depends on whether Social media is Enabled/ disabled.

Here's how you can manage your Authentication preferences:

### Enabling/Disabling Authentication Methods

You can manage these authentication options by following these steps:  
A. When Social Media is enabled:

1. **Navigate to a Certificate or a Badge:**  
   Go to the tab "Recipient Experience" and navigate to the second step, "Recipient Access Page".
2. **By default, the check boxes are unticked. Just toggle** the required methods ON or OFF based on your preference.

![](https://help.virtualbadge.io/hs-fs/hubfs/grafik-png-Mar-03-2025-04-50-53-8154-PM.png?width=400&height=233&name=grafik-png-Mar-03-2025-04-50-53-8154-PM.png)

### **Recipient Experience Preview when social media is enabled**

### **1. No authentication method is selected**

*When none of the options are selected, recipients will automatically view their credentials and be able to share/download them when opening the access link sent via email.*

![](https://help.virtualbadge.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Access%20page-gif.gif?width=670&height=336&name=Access%20page-gif.gif)

### **2. All/ one authentication method is selected**

*When any one or all the options are selected, recipients will have to use any one of those authentication methods to view their credentials and be able to share/download them after opening the access link sent via email.*

*![](https://help.virtualbadge.io/hs-fs/hubfs/old%20recipient%20access-gif.gif?width=670&height=334&name=old%20recipient%20access-gif.gif)*

B. When Social Media is disabled:

1. **Navigate to a Certificate or a Badge:**  
   Go to the tab "Recipient Experience" and navigate to the second step, "Recipient Access Page".
2. **By default, the check box is ticked. Just toggle** the required methods ON or OFF based on your preference.

![](https://help.virtualbadge.io/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Apr-07-2025-02-14-09-0507-PM.png?width=500&height=88&name=image-png-Apr-07-2025-02-14-09-0507-PM.png)

### **Recipient Experience Preview when social media is disabled**

### **1. When email authentication is selected**

*Then recipients will have to use the email authentication method to view their credentials and be able to share/download them after opening the access link sent via email.*

*![](https://help.virtualbadge.io/hs-fs/hubfs/sm%20disbaled%20-%20email%20auth-gif.gif?width=670&height=331&name=sm%20disbaled%20-%20email%20auth-gif.gif)*

### **2. When the email authentication method is not selected**

*Recipients will automatically view their credentials and be able to share/download them when opening the access link sent via email.*

![](https://help.virtualbadge.io/hs-fs/hubfs/sm%20dis%20-%20no%20auth-gif.gif?width=670&height=316&name=sm%20dis%20-%20no%20auth-gif.gif)

- [Onboarding & Setup](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/onboarding-setup?hsLang=en)
- [Features](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/features?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Managing Credentials](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/features?hsLang=en#managing-credentials)
    - [Recipient Management](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/features?hsLang=en#recipient-management)
    - [Email Delivery & Customization](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/features?hsLang=en#email-delivery-customization)
    - [Sharing & Social Integrations](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/features?hsLang=en#sharing-social-integrations)
    - [Security & Verification](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/features?hsLang=en#security-verification)
    - [Insights & Reporting](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/features?hsLang=en#insights-reporting)
- [Credential Design](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/credential-design?hsLang=en)
- [Access & Share Credentials](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/access-share-credentials?hsLang=en)
- [Trainer Module](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/trainer-module?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Trainer module settings](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/trainer-module?hsLang=en#trainer-module-settings)
    - [Creating a Training](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/trainer-module?hsLang=en#creating-a-training)
    - [Recipients in the Trainer Module](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/trainer-module?hsLang=en#recipients-in-the-trainer-module)
- [Integrations & API](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/integrations-api?hsLang=en)
- [Account & Billing](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/account-billing?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Billing](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/account-billing?hsLang=en#billing)
    - [Organisation Settings](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/account-billing?hsLang=en#organisation-settings)
    - [User Settings](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/account-billing?hsLang=en#user-settings)
    - [Element Library](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/account-billing?hsLang=en#element-library)
- [Organisation Hub](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/organisation-hub?hsLang=en)
- [FAQs](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/faqs?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Credential Management](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/faqs?hsLang=en#credential-management)
    - [Trainer Module](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/faqs?hsLang=en#trainer-module)
    - [Email & Delivery Issues](https://help.virtualbadge.io/article/faqs?hsLang=en#email-delivery-issues)

[![Chill listening crop-3](https://help.virtualbadge.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Virtualbadge.io%20Dark%20(2).png?width=181&height=24&name=Virtualbadge.io%20Dark%20(2).png "Chill listening crop-3")](https://www.virtualbadge.io/)

Virtualbadge.io Help Center

<https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtualbadge-io/?originalSubdomain=de>

Copyright © 2026, FutureNext GmbH