2 factor authentication issue

[johne53]

Discussion Type

Product Feedback

Discussion Content

Not sure if this is the right place for this question but here goes...

Quite a few sites these days seem to rely on github but whenever I need to log into one I get asked to enter a 6-digit authentication code from my github app (except I haven't got one).. So the only other way to log in is to use up one of my 10-digit codes (and I'm rapidly running out of them!!)

Most other sites send me a 6-digit code by email or text. So is there any way I can configure github to do the same?

[github-actions[bot]]

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[maa101-hub]

GitHub does not normally send 6-digit login codes by email or SMS for two-factor authentication like many other sites do.

If a site uses “Sign in with GitHub” and your GitHub account has 2FA enabled, GitHub expects you to use one of these methods:

An authenticator app (recommended)
Examples: Google Authenticator, Authy, Microsoft Authenticator
A security key
GitHub recovery codes (the 10-digit backup codes you mentioned)

Right now, it sounds like you enabled 2FA but never properly set up an authenticator app, which is why GitHub keeps asking for a 6-digit code you don’t have.

You can fix this by:

Log into GitHub using one of your remaining recovery codes.
Go to:
Settings → Password and authentication
Set up an authenticator app:
GitHub will show a QR code.
Scan it using Google Authenticator/Authy/etc.
The app will then generate the 6-digit codes you need.
After setup, download/save new recovery codes immediately.

GitHub does support email verification for some security checks, but not as the primary replacement for authenticator-based 2FA login codes.

You can also switch to:

Passkeys
Security keys
GitHub Mobile authentication

Official GitHub docs:

GitHub 2FA Documentation
Configuring an Authenticator App for GitHub

[johne53]

Thanks @maa101-hub I went into Password and Authentication and actually there is an option to send the 6-digit codes by SMS/text so I've set that up and I'll see if it works from now on, Thanks for the quick response.