Two-step verification got me locked out of my own email last month

I set up an authenticator app on my new phone back in September, but never removed the old one from my account. When the backup codes expired and my carrier swapped the SIM, I spent four hours on hold at the Verizon store in Reno before they could verify my identity. Has anyone else had this backward where the security measure causes the breach of access?

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river1901mo ago

Used to swear by two-factor authentication, thought it was the best thing since sliced bread honestly. But after my own runaround with a dead phone and a lost authenticator code, I totally get where you're coming from. The whole system works great until the one time you need it, then it becomes this giant wall between you and your own stuff. It's like the security guard who won't let you into your own house because he doesn't recognize you. I keep the backup codes in a drawer now and I still get nervous every time I switch devices. It feels backwards, but I guess the real problem is how easy it is to lose trust in your own phone number.

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