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Forum Discussion
Can't access email to get 6-digit code
I can login successfully, but needs me to check 6-digit code in email.
Before immigration, login dropbox never needs me to check 6-digit code in email.
After immigration, it needs me to check 6-digit code in email. (same computer)
My email account was disabled (long time no use and I forgot the password), I can't login to my email to check the 6-digit code.
I only want to login Dropbox without check email 6-digit code, so what can I do?
Thanks
Hi!
I desperately need help accessing an old account (last accessed 2019). I know the account email and password. When I enter them, I am then advised further authentication is needed - a 6 digit code sent to the email address. The issue is, I can no longer access the email address to access the code (expired postgrad uni email). No other linked devices. It is to access invaluable maternity photos. They were backed up externally but the zip file is now stating corrupted/"empty".
I have emailed the university to try and gain access. I have also contacted the photographer to no avail.
I am so devastated!
Thank you,
Bec- maher1982
Super User
Hi, sorry to tell you this, but based on my information, Dropbox deletes accounts after 12 months of inactivity. I hope I'm mistaken.
- Rich
Super User II
And even if the account isn't deleted, which it likely is at this point, without access to the email address to receive the one-time security code, you likely wouldn't be able to gain access to the account.
Your only option would be to see if Dropbox Support can help you. To contact Support, visit the Support page while you're NOT signed in to a Dropbox account, including these forums, and you'll see an option for sign in issues. It's best to use an Incognito or Private browsing session to make sure you're not signed in.
Cannot believe there are 40 pages of similar issues! I just ran into the same issue. We set up DropBox back when our email ended with 'sbcglobal.net'. We opened a gmail account like the rest of the world and got locked out of the sbc account. No tech support could ever help us back in. I tried again today with yahoo support and they can't access the email any longer. That was back in the day before 2 step security.
Dropbox...please, please, please take back the 6 digit security code for the countless people locked out of cherished pictures. At least grandfather us in. I know I never signed up for 2 step verification. Give people the choice! The pictures we cannot recover are our daughter in her orphanage. They are priceless!
similar issue here: email account was disabled so I couldn't receive the 6-digit code. I have the correct account name and password, plz help me login.
How can I log in to the account whose associated email is no longer accessible? Thank you.
Anybody has any idea? Thank you.
- Mark
You can log in without the email as long as its not asking for 2FA code. Simply use the username and password as normal.
If it does you may find you cannot regain access. You will need to follow https://help.dropbox.com/account-access/lost-email-access
- I created a dropbox account years ago using my work email. I have now retired and no longer have access to my work email. When I try to log in it send a 6 digit security code to that old email so I can't log in. It gave me how to add an account or link an account but to do that, I still need to get the code they send to that expired work email.
- Mark
How long ago did you last log in? If it was over 12 months ago the data has been wiped.
It is unlikely you can get access to the account, however, have a look at this article. Your best bet is to ask your work if they will reactivate the email.
Hi All,
I am a free account user of Dropbox. Recently, I tried to login to my Dropbox account after 2-3 years and it sent me a code to login to my email address (may be because I have 2FA authentication enabled). Unfortunately, I have no access to that email address and that email address was also not accepting any email. Since, I cannot login to my Dropbox account, I cannot change the email address. I remember the password. I tried option to login and Dropbox showed me a form to fill up. But I could not answer most of the questions as I am logging after so many years. It asked me questions like what item I last uploaded or with whom I last shared any folder. Hence, that form was no help for me.
How can I log in and change my email address?
Please help.
Thanks
GP..
- Rich
gp121 wrote:
Recently, I tried to login to my Dropbox account after 2-3 years ...
Keep in mind that accounts that are idle for more than a year are deleted due to inactivity. Your original account likely no longer exists, and in trying to login again Dropbox was likely trying to create a new, empty account.
... it sent me a code to login to my email address (may be because I have 2FA authentication enabled). Unfortunately, I have no access to that email address ... How can I log in and change my email address?That's not the standard 2FA feature. That's Dropbox not recognizing the device you're signing in from and sending a one-time security code to the email address associated with your account.
You can try contacting Support, but without access to the email address you may not be able to gain access to the Dropbox account. You need to maintain an active email address on your account so you can receive password resets and one-time security codes used during sign in.
To contact Support, visit the Support page while you're NOT signed in to a Dropbox account, including these forums, and you'll see an option for sign in issues. It's best to use an Incognito or Private browsing session to make sure you're not signed in.
I have the email and the password. I attempted to log in on same laptop that I always use. Now all of a sudden I have to enter a 2 step verification code. The email address is no long in existence so I can't receive the code. I managed to get to the form that asked security questions, and I believe I answered all correctly except for one question: year and month you signed up. Well, that was over 15 years ago. I have NO idea what year or month. There HAS to be a way to open this again as I desperately need some personal legal documents that are inside the drop box. Since I can't get the email address back again, how can I access my dropbox again?
- Rich
nr5166 wrote:
Now all of a sudden I have to enter a 2 step verification code. The email address is no long in existence so I can't receive the code.
You can try contacting Support, but without access to the email account you may not be able to gain access to the Dropbox account. You need to maintain an active email address on your account so you can receive password resets and one-time security codes used during sign in.
To contact Support, visit the Support page while you're NOT signed in to a Dropbox address, including these forums, and you'll see an option for sign in issues. It's best to use an Incognito or Private browsing session to make sure you're not signed in.
- How can I get into my old Dropbox account when I can't get into my Gmail account for the 6 digit code
- Rich
Breeze wrote:
How can I get into my old Dropbox account when I can't get into my Gmail account for the 6 digit codeYou can try contacting Support, but without access to the email account you may not be able to gain access to the Dropbox account. You need to maintain an active email address on your account so you can receive password resets and one-time security codes used during sign in.
To contact Support, visit the Support page while you're NOT signed in to a Dropbox address, including these forums, and you'll see an option for sign in issues. It's best to use an Incognito or Private browsing session to make sure you're not signed in.
Also consider that if you haven't signed into the account in more than a year, it may have been deleted due to inactivity.
I had a good few basic Dropbox accounts set up under the email addresses that I never had access to or those emails did not exist. I would always be able to log into the Dropbox accounts till I took a good year away from using those Dropbox accounts. Now it requires me to receive verification codes to those emails that are basically non existant. Is there any way around this verification issue ? How can I bypass the 2 step verification process if I have no access to those email accounts ? Is there a solution at all ?
- Hannah
Dropbox Staff
Hey Hypochondriac, thanks for reaching out to us.
Access to the email address associated with an account is required in order to regain access, but I would suggest reaching out to our support team directly about this.
To do so, open a private browsing/incognito window on your browser, go to this page, fill out the form and submit your request.
I hope this helps, but if you have any questions, let us know.
Hello All,
I have a Dropbox account but I used my work email as the contact. I have since been made redundant from that job and no longer have access to the email, so trying to log in, and it asks for a security code, which of course is sent to that email.
any suggestions.
Cheers Tim
- Rich
TIM70 wrote:
I have a Dropbox account ... and no longer have access to the email, so trying to log in, and it asks for a security code, which of course is sent to that email.
You can try contacting Support, but without access to the email account you may not be able to gain access to the Dropbox account. You need to maintain an active email address on your account so you can receive password resets and one-time security codes used during sign in.
To contact Support, visit the Support page while you're NOT signed in to a Dropbox address, including these forums, and you'll see an option for sign in issues. It's best to use an Incognito or Private browsing session to make sure you're not signed in.
If you're unable to gain access to the account, Support will at least be able to cancel any future payments if the account is on a paid subscription.
Hello, I need your help desperately! I just lost my computer and trying to get back my data. I have a login to Dropbox, which is an email address. I no longer have access to that email account because the domain no longer exists. The verification code is sent to that address, but I don't have access to it. What should I do? I'm almost going gray...
- Mark
It is very unlikley you will be able to access the account without access to either a device (mobile possibly?) with Dropbox installed already OR the email.
https://help.dropbox.com/account-access/lost-email-access
You will need to log a ticket with Dropbox while not logged in - even to here so try an incognito browser and use the option to get account support from www.dropbox.com/support.
