Troubleshooting 2FA - codes not working or not received

If you're having trouble with your 2FA code (whether it's not arriving, showing as invalid, or being rejected) this guide will walk you through the most common fixes.

I'm not receiving my SMS code

Try these steps in order:

1. Check your phone signal. Make sure your phone can receive text messages. Try sending yourself a text from another number to confirm.

2. Confirm your phone number. Check that the last four digits shown on the Zeffy screen match your current number.

3. Toggle airplane mode. Turn airplane mode on for 10 seconds, then off again. This resets your network connection. Then request a new code.

4. Wait 15 minutes. If you've made several failed attempts, the system may temporarily pause sending codes. Wait 15 minutes before requesting a new one.

5. Check your country. SMS codes can only be delivered to phone numbers registered in supported countries. If your number is from an unsupported country, switch to an authenticator app instead.

My SMS code is being rejected or says it's invalid

This usually happens because the code has expired. SMS codes are only valid for a short window. Try these:

1. Request a fresh code and enter it immediately after receiving it — don't let it sit for more than a minute.

2. Check for typos. Enter the code exactly as received, with no spaces or extra characters.

3. Wait 15 minutes and try again. Multiple failed attempts can temporarily lock the code-sending system.

My authenticator app code is being rejected

Authenticator app codes are time-based and refresh every 30 seconds. The most common causes of rejection are:

1. The code expired

Watch for the code to refresh in the app, then enter the new code immediately. Each code is only valid for 30 seconds.

2. There are typos or spaces

Enter only the 6 digits shown — no spaces, no dashes. Some people accidentally add a space between the first and last three digits.

3. You're using the wrong account in the app

If you have multiple accounts in your authenticator app, double-check that you're using the code from the Zeffy entry specifically.

4. Your device clock is out of sync (most common cause)

Authenticator codes are generated based on your device's time. If your clock is even slightly off, the codes won't match. To fix this:

• Go to your phone's date & time settings

• Enable Set Automatically (iOS) or Use network-provided time (Android)

• If it's already enabled, toggle it off, wait a few seconds, then re-enable it

• Request a fresh code and try again

5. The app itself has a conflict

Try a different authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, or Authy) and re-add your Zeffy account by scanning the QR code again. To get a fresh QR code:

1. Log in → click your name (bottom left) → Settings → Two-Factor Authentication

2. Select Deactivate to remove the old setup

3. Re-enroll by scanning the new QR code in your authenticator app

I'm getting a "session not found" or similar error

This error typically appears when there's a mismatch between your browser session and the authentication server — it's not a problem with your code itself. Try these steps:

1. Clear your browser cache and cookies, then reload the Zeffy login page.

2. Try a different browser or open an incognito/private window.

3. Make sure you're not using a VPN or proxy service, which can interfere with session-based authentication.

4. If the problem persists, contact support — this may be a platform-side issue our team can investigate.

Nothing is working - what do I do?

If you've tried all the steps above and still can't get in, our support team will help you recover access. Contact us via the chat widget on the this website or by emailing [email protected]. Let us know which method you're using (SMS or authenticator app) and what steps you've already tried, so we can help you faster.