Two-factor authentication

  • Unknown's avatar
    tigergrowl · Member ·

    My site is tigergrowl.wordpress.com

    I have set 2FA with codes via SMS. It has worked perfectly until now but today it fails.

    It says it has sent a verification code by SMS to my number ending 79 but this number never arrives.

    I have managed to login by using backup codes but I obviously want the 2FA to work as per normal.

    Can you please help?

  • supernovia · Staff ·

    Hi @tigergrowl, I’m glad you were able to get in.

    Sometimes there will be a delay with SMS. We can dig into your situation if you’d like, but I’m guessing it’s just a delay in the network between here and there.

    One alternative is to use an authenticator app instead:
    https://wordpress.com/support/security/two-step-authentication/#setup-with-an-authenticator-app

    Either way, I’d recommend getting a new set of codes so you’ll have plenty in case you need them.

  • Unknown's avatar
    tigergrowl · Member ·

    Thank you for your reply. I’m sorry to say that it is still not working. It says it has sent a code by SMS but the code never arrives. If offered a code via email but that did not arrive either.

    I have tested my phone and it is receiving SMS correctly. Also my email works. They are not causing the problem.

    I managed to get into this forum by logging on with backup codes. Otherwise I am locked out.

    I tried so many times to log on that it made me reset my password. It did that by email.

    Even if I get in with backup codes, I cannot switch off 2FA or change to a 2FA app because that will require me to receive an SMS code and these are not reaching me.

    I am really stuck unless WordPress can work some magic for me. I would settle for them removing 2FA pro tem, if that could be done, so that I can gain entry.

    It is 11:20pm here and so I will look again in the morning,

    Any help will be greatly appreciated.

    ST

  • Unknown's avatar
    tigergrowl · Member ·

    A few minutes ago, as I was preparing for bed, my phone buzzed. It was receiving 16 SMS verification codes. Yes, sixteen. It seems that a blockage has suddenly been removed.

    I don’t know how or why this occurred but if human agency was involved then please receive my warmest thanks.

    ST

  • fstat · Staff ·

    Hi there,

    This looks like a network operator issue. Sometimes providers fail to deliver SMS.

    Anyway, if that happens again please let us know.

  • Unknown's avatar
    tigergrowl · Member ·

    Thank you for that piece of interesting information. Yes, that does make sense and would explain why the backlog suddenly cleared and I received 16 SMS all at once!

    I shall have to think about this and decide whether to change from SMS to an app for 2FA, as previously suggested.

    Thanks to you and the team for attention to my problem.

    ST

  • The topic ‘Two-factor authentication’ is closed to new replies.