BT now require 2fa code for email - is this permanent ?

Monanore

2 months ago I was REQUIRED to set up 2fa on my BT account.

So, the position then became : 2fa code required to access account. Code NOT required for email . This seemed reasonable - I would be happy with code protection on the account but not on email. Then on 15/5/26 a code was required for email which I do not want.

The AI's differ on whether this is permanent or a temporary problem ( copilot, the most convincing, thinks that BT started treating logins as suspicious by mistake ).

Account maintenance does not have separate 2fa toggles for account access and email access.

Anybody know what's going on ? It's ridiculous to have to enter a code for email.

spenderdave

Is this for web access or POP3/SMTP? Just checked my (rarely used) bt email via POP3 and it worked as normal - just the usual spam there.

Oldgeek

Just logged in as normal - no 2FA. AI is giving incorrect information - here it says it will send you a passcode!

'Yes, BT has rolled out mandatory two-step authentication (2FA) for logging into My BT and BT Email accounts. This means you will frequently be prompted to enter a PIN code (passcode) sent to your mobile phone or email to verify your identity.'

flaneurs_lobster

It's just you, must be well dodgy.

No 2FA required here for BT account nor (not accessed for a year) email.

Has got me thinking that maybe I should turn it on - bad actor could cancel my broadband or order half a dozen iPhones on my account if breached?

victor2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82000513#Comment_82000513

You should be able to use any email client without 2fa.

Don't believe what AI tells you! I recently tried both Chatgpt and copilot to tell me the specs of a particular stove we were looking at, as against the latest version now being produced. Both got (different) details completely wrong, but presented their incorrect details in a totally convincing format.

MattMattMattUK

You are not being clear how you are using email, logging in on a browser, through a client on desktop, phone etc. the first is highly likely, but you should be using it with a client anyway so that "problem" should be rare. They will be highly unlikely to turn it off.

Yarrows

I'm using the BT Mail app on Android and am now required to use 2FA (via SMS), since a month or two maybe.

I don't mind that. I do mind that the app semi-regularly goes through a period of repeatedly deciding my login has expired for several minutes so I need to log in several times...

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82001740#Comment_82001740

Not usually a feature of apps on mobile devices - face or fingerprint is generally enough for the Government and banks' apps, with passcode backup - not SMS codes too. Not good enough for BT?

That having to re-login to BT apps seems to be a 'feature' across their range - same thing happens on the MyBT, BT Email and the (thankfully no longer used) BT Cloud.

EssexExile

All working as normal here on phone and pc.

mksysb

No one should be using an ISP mail provider such as btinternet, you'll have problems if you want to change provider. Switch to something like gmail, which you can use regardless of which ISP you are using at the time.

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82004336#Comment_82004336

BT let you keep the email service if you leave (albeit web access only unless you pay). Some have reported not being charged for continued access via a mail client.

But agreed, relying on an ISP's email service is never advisable.