# Easier account signup using email codes

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/easier-account-signup-using-email-codes/407068
**Category:** Announcements
**Tags:** login, signup
**Created:** [July 13, 2026, 1:20am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/easier-account-signup-using-email-codes/407068 "2026-07-13T01:20:43Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![rishabh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/rishabh/32/179446_2.png) [@rishabh](https://meta.discourse.org/u/rishabh)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2026, 1:20am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/easier-account-signup-using-email-codes/407068/1 "2026-07-13T01:20:43Z")

</div>

Discourse communities can now let users log in using a short emailed code instead of a magic link, offering a passwordless login flow which feels familiar to many other SaaS platforms and works alongside your existing second-factor setup.

In this topic, we’ll review the major changes and share how you can start using this today.

## 🔬 What’s changed

When this feature is enabled, members see a simpler flow:

 ![Screenshot 2026-07-08 at 17.56.16](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/4X/5/c/3/5c3bb5672257eaa2b3fd429fe00de817b7e7082f.png):

1. They enter an email address and click **Continue**.
2. A six-digit code lands in their inbox. They paste it (or type it) and the form auto-submits when the last digit is filled.
3. If they have second-factor authentication enabled (TOTP, backup codes, or security key), the standard 2FA step appears next.

 ![Screenshot 2026-07-08 at 17.58.33](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/4X/e/5/d/e5de1196e0c9f5df622c41f73a8f69faad3a14d7.png)

A few details worth knowing: codes are valid for 10 minutes, expire after 5 failed attempts, and can only be redeemed once.

## ⚙ Turning on one-time login codes in your community

**For now, this is considered an experimental change!** Before rolling it out more widely, we’re welcoming your feedback to help us make improvements.

To turn this on, head to the **[Upcoming changes](https://meta.discourse.org/t/introducing-upcoming-changes-a-system-to-manage-new-features-and-changes-to-existing-functionality-in-your-community/392894)** page in your admin area (`/admin/config/upcoming-changes`) and find the **Enable local logins via code** item. Update the **Enabled for** … field to opt your site in to this new design:

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/4X/a/e/4/ae4b065f2e2fe5ebb5050a19780a7ffdc7806664.png)

⚠ Before enabling, confirm that both `enable_local_logins` and `enable_local_logins_via_email` are also `true` as the feature cannot be turned on without them. If you’re using [DiscourseConnect](https://meta.discourse.org/t/13045?silent=true) (`enable_discourse_connect`), this feature cannot be enabled.

Once the change is enabled, the code login path appears automatically.

## 🎲 Random usernames for new accounts

New members who sign up without a recognisable username in their email are now given a friendly generated name like “QuietFalcon42” instead of a generic placeholder like `user1`. The account-ready step prefills the suggestion and includes a dice button to roll a new one.

 ![Screenshot 2026-08-27 at 12.15.46](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/4X/e/5/9/e59f93bf5a53f7f9b5a150cb57a9930490e5404f.png)

The word lists behind the suggestions are configurable via the `random_username_adjectives` and `random_username_nouns` site settings, so communities can tune them to their tone or language.

### Opting out of random username generation

If you want to use email codes for signup but without pre-filled username generation, click _Show related settings_ for this upcoming change and disable the `enable_random_usernames` site setting.

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/4X/a/7/c/a7c8e1ccbc861505c1934b5d723fa59de1b1b283.png)

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/4X/e/b/a/ebafc65990eeddefca50371c4186f5f9547c00c4.png)

## 📣 What do you think?

Over to you: we’d love to hear what you think of this new feature. What do you like and dislike; what is working well, and what could be improved?

---

_[View the full topic](https://meta.discourse.org/t/easier-account-signup-using-email-codes/407068)._