How do you set up Login.gov in the United States in 2026?

Start at login.gov or from the "Sign in with Login.gov" button on a partner agency site. Use a personal email address you control long-term. Set a unique password, then add multi-factor authentication: an authenticator app, security key, or phone-based option supported by Login.gov. Keep backup codes in a safe place. Losing the only authentication method can lock you out of Social Security or Trusted Traveler tools.

Identity proofing is a separate step from basic account creation. When an agency needs a higher assurance level, Login.gov asks for government ID images, a phone number, and matching personal details. A state driver license, state ID, or passport is commonly used. Newcomers who only have a foreign passport should follow the on-screen document list carefully. If self-service proofing fails, Login.gov help pages explain alternate verification paths such as mail or in-person options where available.

Login.gov is operated for federal agencies as a government identity provider. ID.me is a private identity provider that also meets federal standards and partners with government and commercial sites. You do not need both for every task, but you may end up with both because agencies differ.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) my Social Security portal accepts Login.gov or ID.me for sign-in. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) online accounts and several Department of Homeland Security services lean on Login.gov-style federal patterns or agency-native accounts tied to those standards. The IRS, by contrast, directs many IRS.gov account users to verify with ID.me. Creating Login.gov first will not automatically open every IRS tool.

Practical rule: open the agency website you need (SSA, USCIS, IRS, Veterans Affairs, or Trusted Traveler), then create whichever credential that page offers. Reuse an existing Login.gov or ID.me account when the agency lists it, instead of inventing duplicate emails.

Have your SSN information ready if the agency flow asks for it, plus a US phone number when required for one-time codes. A physical US address helps for any mail-based verification. Complete Get ssn and Get state id early if you will need SSA or DMV-linked proofing later.

Never create Login.gov from a link in a random email or text. Type login.gov or navigate from the official agency site. Phishing against federal logins is common around tax season and immigration filers.