The recovery email address
What it replaces — and what it doesn't.
The recovery address is for when you no longer have access to your main inbox. It only exists on a protected account.
Profile tab → ⚙️ → "Account security" → "Authentication" → "Recovery address"
Saving it happens in two steps: you enter the address, then you confirm with a code sent to that address. In between, "your current address stays valid until this is confirmed".
It doesn't open a session
This is the part that surprises people, and it's deliberate.
It isn't a door, it's a spare mailbox
The recovery address lets you receive the 6-digit code somewhere else. It then brings you back to the same authentication screen: you'll still need your app or a recovery code.
The reason: if it opened a session by itself, controlling a second mailbox would be enough to bypass the whole protection on your account. The recovery address replaces your inbox; it doesn't replace your second factor.
In short
| Gets you in? | |
|---|---|
| Authenticator app | Yes |
| Recovery code | Yes |
| Recovery email address | No — it only moves where the code is sent |
Updated on September 14, 2026
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