> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.box.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Accessing a shared link that requires email verification

> Received a Box shared link that asks you to verify your email? Learn how the one-time passcode (OTP) works, how to get your code, and how to fix common problems.

If someone shared a Box file or folder with you using a link that requires you to verify your email address before you can open it, this is a quick, one-time security step that confirms your identity. You don't need a Box account to verify.

## How email verification works

When you open a link that requires verification, Box sends a one-time passcode (OTP) to your email address. You enter that code to prove the email address is yours, and then Box opens the content.

To access the link:

1. Open the shared link. Box displays the **Verify your email address** page.
2. Enter your email address and select **Next**. Box sends a 6-digit code from `noreply@box.com`.
3. Open the email and copy the 6-digit code. The code is valid for 10 minutes.
4. On the **Enter One-Time Passcode** page, enter the code and select **Verify**.
5. If your email address is authorized for the link, Box opens the content.

> [!NOTE]
>
> If you're already signed in to Box, including on the Box mobile apps or Box Drive, you usually don't see a passcode prompt. Box recognizes your identity automatically and either opens the content or, if the link is restricted to specific people, lets you know that your account isn't authorized.

## After you verify

* Your verification stays valid for one hour. During that hour, you don't need to verify again, and the same verified email address works across any Box links you're authorized to open. You can move between shared files without entering a new code each time.
* If you use more than one email address, you can verify up to 5 addresses in the same session.
* After the hour is up, Box asks you to verify again the next time you open a protected link.

## Troubleshooting

### I didn't receive the code

* Check your spam or junk folder for a message from `noreply@box.com`.
* Make sure your email filters don't block `noreply@box.com`. Box uses the same sender for sign-in security codes, so it's often already allowed. If you use a company email system, your IT team can confirm that the address isn't filtered.
* Confirm that you entered your email address correctly, then select **Resend code**.
* You can request a new code once per minute, up to 15 times per hour. If you reach the limit, wait and try again later.

### My code expired

Codes are valid for 10 minutes. If yours has expired, select **Resend code** and enter the new code promptly.

### I see an Invalid Verification Code message

Check that you entered the 6-digit code correctly. If the code has expired, select **Resend code** to get a new one.

### I see an Access Denied message

The person who shared the link limited access to specific email addresses or domains, and the email address you entered isn't on the link's Access List. You can:

* Select **Change email** to verify a different email address. For example, use your work address if you first tried a personal one.
* Contact the person who shared the link and ask them to add your email address, or your domain, to the link's Access List.

### My folder or multi-item download doesn't start

When you select several items in a shared folder and download them together, or download the whole folder, Box displays a success message but doesn't create or download the ZIP file. This is a known limitation of shared links that require email verification.

To get the content, download each file individually. Single-file downloads work as expected.

### I've tried too many times

For security, Box limits how many verification attempts a single link accepts, up to 100 per hour. If you reach this limit, wait and try again later, or contact the person who shared the link.

## Related articles

* [Requiring email verification on shared links](/en/box-fundamentals/for-users/collaborating/using-shared-links/requiring-email-verification-on-shared-links.md)
* [Creating Shared Links](/en/box-fundamentals/for-users/collaborating/using-shared-links/creating-shared-links.md)