In May, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO) will begin implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to enhance system security for Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) and Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER). MFA provides an added layer of security to accounts by helping protect against cyberattacks that steal passwords, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

From mid-May to the end of 2025, users with any type of CM/ECF-level access who do not voluntarily enroll will be randomly selected to do so. These randomly selected CM/ECF users will be notified of the MFA requirement during login. By the end of 2025, everyone with CM/ECF-level access will be required to use MFA when logging in.

PACER-only accounts that do not have filing privileges in any court and only query will not be required to have MFA enabled but will have the option to enroll. All other accounts that can file in ECF will be required to enroll.

 Authentication Options

Users can download any authentication application (app) that supports a time-based one-time password (TOTP). The AO does not endorse specific apps, however, some options include Authy, DUO Mobile, FreeOTP, Google Authenticator, and Microsoft Authenticator. Before enrolling in MFA, the AO recommends that users research available authentication apps to decide which one will work best for them and then download their preferred app. 

Additionally, users who are unable to download an authentication app will be able to save one-time use backup codes. Once users have used all their backup codes, they will need to request a new batch.

 For more information or questions, please visit the PACER website or contact the PACER Service Center at 1-800-676-6856.