Bitcoin Forum

Hi all, I hope you are having a great 2014 so far :).    I didn't quite know what section to post this in, so mods please feel free to move if necessary.   I just recently starting using blockchain.info to hold a portion of my BTC holdings.   I enabled the 2 factor security (via SMS), just for an added layer of security (obviously).   The problem I am facing is that it keeps logging me out after being idle for a bit.   So each time, I have to log back in and get a new SMS code.   

Now the system is telling me I have "exceeded daily limit for medium priority SMS messages" and it won't send me my auth code, or allow me to log in.   Have any of you experienced this before, and is there any work around so that I can log in?   

Thanks!

Contact blockchain support. They are normally helpful.

Thanks...I just thought I'd reach out here to see if anyone else has experienced this because Support emails usually take days to get responses..

I've never used 2fa via SMS. Always use google authenticator. SMS's are a PITA. They can take ages to arrive sometimes

Can you set it so that both work?   I believe that is how I have coinbase set up...

I don't know with blockchain.info, sorry, I don't use that service. But I'd be pretty sure SMS isn't the only option with blockchain.info

ok, thanks for the responses though...much faster than support at blockchain...im sure I will hear back from them by next week lol

Blockchain has 1 milllion users so there must be someone here that can help you out directly :)

yeah they are probably like... "now serving #889,679"   we are experiencing unusually high support emails, but your satisfaction is very important to us..." 

support is saying i can reset my 2 factor authentication by filling out the form that they sent me.   It also says that they manually check the forms (it's not automated), so I don't know how long it will take after that for me to be able to access my account. 

Do you think I should just wait until tomorrow to see if I can log in using SMS again, and then go in and manually change the settings at that point?


Not a good start for blockchain.info!

Can't advise on that. Shame nobody that uses blockchain is helping ya :( mtgox suspended my account for a week just because I accidentally took otp off!

Probably try SMS again tomorrow - if that fails - go the filling in the form route.

At least they have replied now ;)

If you have the backup file they send you each time you create a new address, you can create a new account, restore the wallets using that file and you are good to go again. If you have the private keys in plain text, just enter that single key for that particular address you need into the new account.

Then, when they unfreeze your old account, you have a choice to delete all the keys off either (but not both) account.

You should definitely change 2FA to Google Authenticator, as it's a lot simpler and easier.
Anyway, although blockchain.info is probably the most secure online wallet, I would recommend you to put your coins into something like Electrum or Multibit.

Yeah I think the OP has realised that now .... he's just trying to get back to being able to access his account. Can't change to Google Authenticator without account access ;)

Different methods are available, yes

https://i.imgur.com/c2nDbmv.png

Also

https://i.imgur.com/yolpM9a.png

The site is pretty solid.

Yes this is exactly whats happening. Im hoping the SMS just re-sets today so i can go in and switch it to google authenticator, because without SMS i am locked out.

LOL really? thank god I haven't gotten that yet, how many times have you been logged out before it happened?

Not sure to be honest. I dont think it was that many. I had my wallet open at my office while doing other things. I kept getting sidetracked, so when idle it would log me out and resend SMS automatically. I guess this happened several times leading to me being locked out :(

Update:   I was just able to log in, the system sent me an SMS finally, and I was able to get in and switch the system to google authenticator.   So word of advise, if you are going to be using your account for a large number of transactions per day and you will be logging in and out frequently, SMS 2 factor, is NOT the way to go for a 2nd layer of security.

Glad it worked out for you already :)

Google authenticator is so sweet!

Yes, thank you for getting back to me so quickly.   You were one of the only people to hop on the thread right away, when i needed some assistance, I really appreciate it.   What wallet do you use?  The official bitcoin one?   

I use litecoin qt, but have not used the official bitcoin one at all yet...

For Bitcoin, i don't recommend you to use the official bitcoin qt wallet, as downloading the blockchain takes a long time. Instead, you should use MultiBit or Electrum.

I use electrum (electrum.org). Thoroughly recommended, if only because you don't have to download the blockchain (yawn).

I can't agree more with you. Electrum takes 1 second to setup: you download and install it, and you already have addresses. There is no need to sync the entire blockchain or anything like that, although it isn't the most secure option. I would say that Armory is the most secure free wallet right now.

Of course, if you want to be super-safe, you can download the official BitCoin QT, wait for a week or so (Slight exaggeration) for the blockchain to sync, you transfer all your coins to that address, you write down private key, store it in a safe and delete the whole official BitCoin QT.

guys using blockchain.info, does it automatically log you out after just a few minutes of inactivity?   I keep having to log in over and over.   Kind of annoying.   I guess cool for security if someone happened to hop on my computer, but it auto logs me out super quick

Thanks! Will look into it.   I am trying to spread my holdings over a few spots just in case I have a problem with one of them.   I would hate to lose any of my BTC, but if it somehow were to happen, I would rather lose a portion, than my whole portfolio, you know?

Sorry to step in again :)

One reason sites log you out like that is if your IP address switches. I used to live in an apartment where they had an insane IP switching system. Like every 2 minutes. And so many sites just kept logging me out. Had to move apartment :)

Use whatismyip.com to check if your IP is changing rapidly ....

Oh yeah, i didnt think of that. I am going to see if my office does that with the IP address. Thanks!

My tipjar is:
1A5cdPbioVMRdv7nB86uhWUkK2Udrts4vZ

if you are feeling extra generous later :)

It might not be that you have a dynamic IP address. It's something automatic. Go to Account Settings -> General -> Inactivity Logout and you can choose.