Recovering your account if you lose your 2FA credentials

Using a two-factor authentication recovery code

Use one of your recovery codes to automatically regain entry into your account. You may have saved your recovery codes to a password manager or your computer's downloads folder. The default filename for recovery codes is github-recovery-codes.txt. For more information about recovery codes, see Configuring two-factor authentication recovery methods.

1. Type your username and password to prompt authentication.

   Note

   If you do not know your password, you can use a recovery code after requesting a new password. See Updating your GitHub access credentials.

2. Under "Having problems?", click Use a recovery code or begin 2FA account recovery.

3. Type one of your recovery codes, then click Verify.

Authenticating with a passkey

If you have added a passkey to your account, you can use your passkey to automatically regain access to your account. Passkeys satisfy both password and 2FA requirements, so you don't need to know your password in order to recover your account. See About passkeys.

Authenticating with a security key

If you configured two-factor authentication using a security key, you can use your security key as a secondary authentication method to automatically regain access to your account. For more information, see Configuring two-factor authentication.

Authenticating with a fallback number

If you lose access to your preferred TOTP app or phone number, you can provide a two-factor authentication code sent to your fallback number to automatically regain access to your account.

Authenticating with a verified device, SSH token, or personal access token

If you know your password for GitHub but don't have the two-factor authentication credentials or your two-factor authentication recovery codes, you can have a one-time password sent to your verified email address to begin the verification process. You'll need to verify your identity using a recovery authentication factor, such as an SSH key or previously verified device.

You can use your two-factor authentication credentials or two-factor authentication recovery codes to regain access to your account anytime during the 3-5 day waiting period.

1. Type your username and password to prompt authentication.

   Warning

   If you protect your personal account with two-factor authentication but do not know your password, you will need to begin with a password reset request. For more information, see Recovering without your password.

2. Under "Having problems?", click Use a recovery code or begin 2FA account recovery.

3. Under "Locked out?", click Try 2FA account recovery, or unlink your account email address(es).

4. Click I understand, get started to request a reset of your authentication settings.

5. Click Send one-time password to send a one-time password to all eligible addresses associated with your account. Only verified emails are eligible for account recovery. If you've restricted password resets to your primary and/or backup addresses, these addresses are the only addresses eligible for account recovery.

6. Under "One-time password", type the temporary password from the recovery email GitHub sent, then click Verify email address.

7. Choose a recovery verification factor.

   • If you've used your current device to log into this account before and would like to use the device for verification, click Verify with this device.
   • If you've previously set up an SSH key on this account and would like to use the SSH key for verification, click SSH key.
   • If you've previously set up a personal access token and would like to use the personal access token for verification, click Personal access token.

   Note

   For security reasons, an authentication factor may not be available for recovery, even if you've used that authentication method with the account before. For example, SSH keys are removed from accounts after a period of inactivity and verified devices are recorded with cookies, and won't be available if your browser deletes cookies regularly.

8. A member of GitHub Support will review your request and email you within three business days. If your request is approved, you'll receive a link to complete your account recovery process. If your request is denied, the email will include a way to contact support with any additional questions.

Recovering without your password

If you have forgotten your password, you can request a new password. During the password reset process, you can use one of your two-factor authentication credentials or a recovery code. See Updating your GitHub access credentials.

Recovering without your password or two-factor authentication credentials

If you have lost access to your two-factor authentication credentials and your recovery codes, you can start account recovery request. You'll need to verify your identity using a recovery authentication factor, such as an SSH key or previously verified device.

1. To request a new password, visit https://github.com/password_reset.

2. Enter the email address associated with your account, then click Send password reset email.

   Note

   Only primary and backup email addresses can be used to request a new password. Unless you have previously chosen a specific backup email address, all verified emails are considered backup email addresses.

3. GitHub will email you a link that will allow you to reset your password. You must click on this link within 3 hours of receiving the email. If you didn't receive an email from us, make sure to check your spam folder.

4. On GitHub, you will be prompted for your 2FA credentials. Under "Having problems?", click Start a 2FA recovery request or unlink your account email address(es).

5. To complete your recovery request, you'll need to verify an alternative authentication factor. Choose a recovery verification factor.

   • If you've used your current device to log into this account before and would like to use the device for verification, click Verify with this device.
   • If you've previously set up an SSH key on this account and would like to use the SSH key for verification, click SSH key.
   • If you've previously set up a personal access token and would like to use the personal access token for verification, click Personal access token.

   Note

   For security reasons, an authentication factor may not be available for recovery, even if you've used that authentication method with the account before. For example, SSH keys are removed from accounts after a period of inactivity and verified devices are recorded with cookies, and won't be available if your browser deletes cookies regularly.

6. A member of GitHub Support will review your request and email you within three business days. If your request is approved, you'll receive a link to complete your account recovery process. If your request is denied, the email will include a way to contact support with any additional questions.

Unlinking your email address

If you have exhausted your recovery options, you can unlink your email address from your account. The email address is then available for you to link it to a new or existing account, maintaining your commit history. See Unlinking your email address from a locked account.

Further reading

• Configuring two-factor authentication recovery methods