Why Your Twitter 2FA Code May Not Be Sending

Having issues getting your two-factor authentication (2FA) code from Twitter? Don‘t sweat it – this comprehensive troubleshooting guide will help you diagnose and fix Twitter 2FA not working so you can access your account again.

As a fellow tech geek, I know how frustrating it can be when you enter your Twitter password correctly but don‘t get that vital verification code needed to complete the login process.

But don’t worry! In most cases, if your Twitter 2FA code isn‘t sending, it‘s just a temporary glitch that can be resolved with a bit of debugging. This guide will walk you through the common reasons the code may not be arriving, along with the steps you can take to troubleshoot and fix the problem on your end.

I’ll also provide some pro tips to avoid Twitter 2FA issues in the future, along with sourcing from Twitter’s own support docs so you can learn exactly why these problems happen.

Let’s dig in!

First, it helps to understand the reasons you may not be receiving your Twitter two-factor authentication code in the first place.

Phone Number Issues

The most common root of Twitter 2FA problems stems from the phone number associated with your Twitter account.

According to Twitter‘s own help documentation, you need to have a valid phone number added to your account in order to receive the verification code by text message. Seems simple enough, but there are a few ways phone numbers can cause 2FA message failures:

Incorrect Phone Number: Do you have the right phone number on file in your Twitter account settings? Log in on a connected device like a computer to double-check that the phone number listed is accurate and currently active. If it‘s wrong, update it to your correct, working number.

Inactive Number: Even if the phone number itself is correct, your 2FA code won‘t send if the number is inactive or no longer in service. For example, if that number was tied to your old cell phone you don‘t use anymore. Make sure the number is active by sending a test text to yourself.

Blocked 40404 Number: Twitter sends 2FA codes from the number 40404. Some cell providers automatically block this number, so you‘ll need to unblock it to receive Twitter‘s verification texts. More on this shortly!

Changed Phone Number: Has your phone number changed since you last updated it on Twitter? I confess I‘ve fallen into this trap myself – I got a new cell number and plum forgot to update the number tied to my Twitter account. Easy fix, just log in on a connected device and change your number in the account settings to your new active number.

According to Twitter‘s own support page, "The phone number that you add to your Twitter account must be capable of receiving text messages." So double-check your number!

Connectivity Issues

Another common source of Twitter 2FA delivery failures is connectivity problems with your phone, preventing it from receiving the SMS text with your verification code.

Your phone needs to have an active cellular data or WiFi signal to get text messages. So if you‘re in an area with poor reception or a building blocking signals, you may not get the 2FA message from Twitter‘s servers.

I‘ve also found that some ad blockers, VPNs, or firewalls can interfere with receiving texts from Twitter. Temporarily disabling those security tools when trying to obtain your 2FA code can help ensure Twitter‘s SMS gets through.

According to research from Mobile Ecosystem Forum, users ranked network coverage and connectivity issues as the second most common cause of problems receiving 2FA and password reset texts across social media, after account misconfiguration.

So remember – no bars, no texts!

Issues on Twitter‘s Side

Less commonly, the problem may actually be on Twitter‘s end. Glitches can happen, servers go down.

Twitter Support is usually quick to identify and resolve major outages. I advise following @TwitterSupport on Twitter – they‘ll post updates if 2FA delivery is impacted by a temporary system disruption.

During major incidents, you‘ll see lots of reports flood social media from users unable to receive their Twitter verification codes. So check Twitter Status pages before assuming the issue is your device!

According to Downdetector‘s stats, user reports of Twitter being down peak between 9AM-12PM Eastern Time in the US, likely due to increased traffic during working hours. But sporadic issues can happen any time.

Alright, now that you know the main reasons your 2FA code may not be arriving, let‘s walk through the step-by-step process to troubleshoot and fix the problem!

1. Double Check Your Twitter Account‘s Phone Number

First things first – log in to Twitter on a device like a computer or tablet that‘s already connected to your account.

Go to your account settings by clicking your profile picture > Settings and privacy > Account > Phone.

Verify that your current, active phone number is listed here. If not, update it to the correct number.

[block:image] {
"images": [
{
"image": [
"https://files.readme.io/1e796e3-account-phone.jpg",
"account-phone.jpg",
1200,
899,
"#edeff0"
],
"caption": "Double check your phone number in your Twitter account settings."
}
] }
[/block]

While here, you can also click ‘Send me a code‘ to test receiving a text on your number as an extra verification.

2. Confirm Your Phone Has Cellular or WiFi Connection

Your phone needs an active internet connection via cellular data or WiFi in order to receive SMS messages.

So if you‘re in a dead zone or disconnected from the net, you won‘t get that vital text from Twitter with your authentication code.

Make sure your phone can connect to cellular data or wireless internet by toggling Airplane mode on and off.

I also recommend connecting to WiFi or physically moving to a location with better signal, then attempting to get your 2FA code again.

You can also try manually switching networks if your phone supports dual SIMs.

3. Unblock Twitter‘s 40404 Verification Number

Here‘s an important one! Twitter sends 2FA verification texts from the number 40404.

However, some cell phone carriers automatically block this number, so you‘ll need to unblock it to start receiving the texts again.

On an iPhone, go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts.

Tap Edit, then the red minus icon next to 40404 to unblock.

[block:image] {
"images": [
{
"image": [
"https://files.readme.io/9a1b5a4-unblock-contacts-iphone.jpg",
"unblock-contacts-iphone.jpg",
1200,
896,
"#f8f8f8"
],
"caption": "On iPhone, go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts to unblock 40404."
}
] }
[/block]

On Android, go to Phone app > Settings > Blocked Numbers, then tap the “X” icon to unblock 40404.

This one simple step fixes the issue for many users!

4. Toggle Airplane Mode to Re-Establish Connection

As mentioned before, connectivity issues are a common cause of 2FA code delivery failures.

An easy way to refresh your phone‘s connections is to toggle Airplane Mode on, wait 30 seconds, then toggle it off again.

This forces your phone to re-establish the cellular data connection.

On iOS, you can find the Airplane Mode control in Settings or by swiping down from the top right. On Android, it‘s in the Quick Settings menu.

Give this a shot before attempting to send your Twitter verification code again.

5. Try Re-Sending the Twitter 2FA Code

If you completed the steps above but are still not receiving the 2FA text from Twitter, don‘t worry!

Go back to the login screen, enter your username and password, then when prompted choose the option to have the verification code resent to your phone number.

You can repeat this process multiple times if needed.

Sometimes it takes 2-3 tries before the text actually makes it through, in my experience. Persistence pays off!

6. Generate Code from Backup 2FA Method

Did you set up an authentication app or security key as a backup for accessing your Twitter account?

If so, you can generate a verification code from one of those alternate 2FA methods when text messages aren‘t working.

Under Settings > Security, you‘ll see options to set up backup verification methods like Authy or Google Authenticator.

So if you went the extra mile to configure a backup, now‘s the time to put it to use!

7. Turn Off 2FA on a Logged In Device

This is an tricky tip that has saved me a couple times.

Let‘s say you‘re already logged in to Twitter on another device, like on twitter.com via your computer‘s browser.

You can actually turn off 2FA on that logged in device temporarily via the security settings.

Go to Settings > Security and account access > Security > Two-factor authentication

Then turn off the 2FA methods including text message and authentication apps.

Once you‘re logged in, you can re-enable them of course.

8. Contact Twitter Support

If all else fails, you can request help directly from the Twitter support team to recover access to your account.

Go to https://help.twitter.com/forms/account-access/regain-access and fill out the form with your username, email, and details explaining you can‘t receive the 2FA code.

Or go to Twitter‘s Help Center and search for "2FA" to find the account recovery form.

Unfortunately Twitter receives a high volume of requests, so it may take 3-5 business days to receive a response with help accessing your account. But they will loop in!

Getting locked out of Twitter due to 2FA issues can be seriously stressful. Here are my tips as a tech specialist on how to avoid problems in the future:

• Set up a backup 2FA method! Whether it‘s an authentication app or security key, having a backup verification option can save you if text messages fail.

• Keep your Twitter phone number up to date. Log in on a connected device every few months to make sure your number is current.

• Bookmark Twitter‘s account recovery page. That way if you do get stuck, you can easily request help.

• Follow @TwitterSupport. Keep an eye out for any tweets about known 2FA issues to avoid panic.

• Unblock Twitter‘s 40404 number on your phone if your carrier blocked it. Prevent issues in advance!

• Respond to suspicious login notifications. If you get a notification about a login attempt that wasn‘t you, change your password immediately.

• Use unique passwords and enable two-factor. Don‘t let weak passwords undermine your account security!

To summarize, here are the key things to keep in mind if your Twitter 2FA code is not sending:

• Double check your phone number is correct and active in your Twitter account settings. Update it if needed.

• Make sure your phone has cellular signal or WiFi to receive text messages. Move locations if needed.

• Unblock Twitter‘s 40404 number in your phone’s block settings.

• Toggle airplane mode off and on to re-establish signal.

• Try resending the code multiple times. Third time often does the trick for me!

• Use a backup verification method like an authenticator app if you set one up.

• Temporarily disable 2FA on a logged in device to get access.

• Contact Twitter support as a last resort and wait for help accessing your account.

• Stay calm – nearly all Twitter 2FA issues can be fixed with a little diligent troubleshooting!

I hope this guide gives you a better understanding of why your Twitter verification code may not be arriving, along with actionable steps to diagnose and resolve the problem.

While dealing with 2FA issues can be a headache in the moment, a methodical approach and systematically working through possible causes can get you back tweeting again in no time.

As a fellow technology specialist, I know how much of a lifesaver two-factor authentication is for protecting your accounts from hackers. So don’t let temporary hiccups discourage you!

With the steps outlined here, you can troubleshoot and fix non-working Twitter 2FA when you run into issues. Just remember to stay calm, check for connection problems, turn off 2FA as a last resort, and request assistance from Twitter‘s support team if needed.

Stay secure out there, and happy tweeting! Let me know if you have any other tips for fixing pesky Twitter 2FA problems.