# Activate your account and get software

## Activate your account and get software

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To make sure emails are authentically from Sophos, open the emails sent by `do-not-reply@central.sophos.com`.
{% endhint %}

## Steps to Follow:

To activate your account and get your security software, do as follows:

1. Open the welcome email from Sophos.
2. In the email, click **Create Password**.

   Now you see the **Activate your account** page.

   <figure><img src="https://docs.sophos.com/central/customer/help/en-us/images/WelcomeEmail.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
3. Enter the following details:

   1. Create and confirm your password.
   2. Select a **Central Admin Portal** location. Your data is stored in this region.

      Your Sophos Partner might have selected this for you.
   3. Read and acknowledge the legal agreements.
   4. Click **Activate Account**.

   <figure><img src="https://docs.sophos.com/central/customer/help/en-us/GettingStarted/images/NewActivateyouraccount.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<br>

## Get software installers

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The Product Setup page opens automatically the first time you sign in to your account.
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**Tip**

You can open the Product Setup page again if you accidentally closed it. Go to **Help** > **Product Setup**.
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<figure><img src="https://docs.sophos.com/central/customer/help/en-us/images/NewProductSetup.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

1. Click **Endpoint Protection** or **Server Protection**.
2. In **Endpoint Protection** or **Server Protection**, click the download link for your operating system.

   Note

   * You can use the Windows installer on an endpoint computer or a server.
   * The Windows and macOS installers give you Intercept X as well as standard threat protection.
3. Copy the installers to your devices.

{% hint style="warning" %}
You've got what you'll need to protect your network, but you also must set up multi-factor authentication for a secure access in the future. You must sign out from your Central account.
{% endhint %}

## Set up multi-factor authentication

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The second time you sign in to your account, you'll be asked to set up multi-factor authentication (MFA).
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Under **Set up MFA method**, you'll see the option to set up an **Authentication App**.

<figure><img src="https://docs.sophos.com/central/customer/help/en-us/ManageYourAccount/images/ModernAuthSetUpMFAMethodApp.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

1. Click **Set up now**.
2. Scan the QR code with your authenticator app to add the Sophos Central account to your device, then enter the security code displayed in your authenticator app. You can also add a device name. Click **Continue**.

   <figure><img src="https://docs.sophos.com/central/customer/help/en-us/ManageYourAccount/images/ModernAuthVerifyDevice.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
3.

```
When the setup is complete, you'll see a window with the following message: **Successful enrollment**.
```

```
<figure><img src="https://docs.sophos.com/central/customer/help/en-us/ManageYourAccount/images/ModernAuthSuccess.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
```

4\.
5. Click **Continue**.
6\.  The next time you sign in, you can use your username (email address), password, then a verification code from your authenticator app. See [Sign in to Sophos Central with a passkey or authenticator app](https://docs.sophos.com/central/customer/help/en-us/ManageYourAccount/ModernAuthentication/ModernAuthSignIn/).

```
<figure><img src="https://docs.sophos.com/central/customer/help/en-us/ManageYourAccount/images/ModernAuthMFAValidationRequired.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
```

***

## REFERENCES

* <https://docs.sophos.com/central/customer/help/en-us/GettingStarted/ActivateAccount/index.html#set-up-mfa>