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Why am I not receiving a verification code to my email anymore when trying to log in?

Hi! When logging in to the website, it used to send a verification code to my email. Now it only prompts the Dropbox app to authenticate log in, or via sms. It used to send to email but now I don't see it an an option. How to i add using email as login authentication option? Why does dropbox send send to the Dropbox app to. Authenticate log in? I don't remember changing it to that. Did this change at some point or did I change the setting without realizing it. Thanks!

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Hannah

Hi there, @Cloudsoverkorra, thanks for posting today!

Are you perhaps referring to the one-time security code instead of the two-factor authentication feature?

And do you mean that the security code does arrive at your linked devices as a notification, but you're not getting it to your email?

Any additional info on the issue would be helpful.

Thanks in advance!

Cloudsoverkorra

Hello! Yes, I am referring to the one-time security code and I am not getting it to my email. It arrives to my linked devices as a notification or I can select to receive it at my mobile device.

Cloudsoverkorra

Additionally, the 2-factor authentication method is currently enabled.

Rich

Cloudsoverkorra wrote:
Additionally, the 2-factor authentication method is currently enabled.

The two-step verification and one-time security codes are two separate, but similar, features.

Two-step verification is a feature you can enable to use your phone or the Dropbox app on another device as a second authentication method. You cannot use your email address as an authentication method for two-step verification.

One-time security codes, which are sent to your email, are sent by Dropbox when they don't recognize the device or location you're signing in from. There's no control over when these codes are requested. It's simply Dropbox asking you to prove who you are when they don't recognize you.

Cloudsoverkorra

Is it possible to turn off two-step verification so my email can be used to recieve one-time security codes again? I am not sure if this would make sense but I am trying to understand. My mobile device uses the Dropbox app for 2fa. What if I end up getting a new mobile phone? How would I log into the Dropbox mobile app if it's used as 2fa. Is there a downside to this? If turned off, would my backup security codes still work?

Nancy

You can disable two-step verification with these steps, @Cloudsoverkorra. You’ll first need to be logged in to your Dropbox account, though.

As for your other question, can you clarify what you mean when saying that you're using your Dropbox mobile app as 2FA?

I'll be able to further assist after that.

Cloudsoverkorra

Hello - When I try to log in to Dropbox.com, it gives me the option to send a one-time code to a phone number or approve the log-in through a notification sent to Dropbox Mobile App. I used to like the one-time code to my email or phone number. I liked the option. Why does it prompt me to approve the log-in through the mobile app? Is it because I have two-step verification enabled?

Side question - if I turn off two-step verification, will I still have valid backup codes?

Mainly - I am concerned and want to ensure I don't lose access to my Dropbox account for any reason.

Hannah

Hi again, @Cloudsoverkorra!

The one-time code and two-step verification are two different and separate features, so one does not affect the other.

Also, regarding this:

if I turn off two-step verification, will I still have valid backup codes?

Can you clarify that a little? The backup codes are necessary when two-step verification is enabled. If you disable it, the codes will be both invalid and unnecessary, since you basically won't need them any more.

Cloudsoverkorra

I am wondering if my backup codes will still be valid if I turn off two-step verification. When I log in, my only options are to recieve push notification to my app or desktop app, SMS, or I can use my recovery codes to log in. Is this correctly set up if I were to keep my security settings the way it is? Why would I receive push notifications? I don't recall enabling it. Is that just part of the log in options?

At some point I must have enabled two-step verification under the security settings. I am just having trouble understanding why I recieve push notifications and what will happen if I turn off two-step verification or leave it on, and how would either affect how I log into my Dropbox account.

Hannah

Your settings are indeed correct; upon logging in, you have two options: Send push notifications via linked devices or send SMS instead.

If you choose the push notification, you will be redirected to the app (desktop or mobile) and you will be asked to approve this, so I think that's what happened in your case.

Regarding two-step verification, while it's enabled, you can always generate new recovery codes from the settings, but if it's disabled, you won't really need them anyway.

If you later enable it once again, you'll probably get new ones, but as long as the feature is disabled from the settings, you won't need recovery codes at all.