> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://devdocs.xbox.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Player Login

> Overview of PlayFab player login options, including anonymous and recoverable login providers, session tickets, and how to authenticate players in-game.

The first step in adding PlayFab to any game is to log in the player. Logging in the player returns a security token that is required for all other API calls.

PlayFab provides a breadth of login providers to enable both anonymous and recoverable login mechanisms.

## Anonymous login mechanisms

Anonymous login mechanisms are the simplest to use. They require zero input from the player, so that there's no friction to the first time user experience - and they create a unique account in PlayFab for each player.

This is the most common login mechanism to use initially (especially for mobile games). Being anonymous, these methods can uniquely identify a device, but contain no recoverable information about this player. If the player loses or breaks their device, the account is lost, and may be very difficult to recover.

## Recoverable login mechanisms

Recoverable login mechanisms require some identity information from the player. The player must either authenticate with an external provider (e.g. Facebook, iOS, Google, Kongregate, PlayStation®, Steam, XBOX Live, etc.), or manage the login directly with PlayFab, by using either a user name or email address and password.

“PlayStation” is a registered trademark or trademark of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

## Best practices

You should begin by reading the [login best practices guide](/services/playfab/identity/player-identity/login/login-basics-best-practices). Make sure that your game enables your players to join in and start playing quickly and easily, while providing them with a safe and secure method of getting access to their game data on multiple devices.


## Related topics

- [Player Logins](/services/playfab/player-progression/player-data/player-logins.md)
- [Login basics and best Practices](/services/playfab/identity/player-identity/login/login-basics-best-practices.md)
- [Handling Multiple PlayFab Logins](/services/playfab/identity/player-identity/login/multiple-logins.md)
- [player_updated_login_email](/services/playfab/api-references/events/PlayerIdentity/player-updated-login-email.md)
- [Tutorial Get a player profile](/services/playfab/player-progression/player-data/getting-player-profiles.md)