Signing in to Span

Last updated: October 27, 2026

Span has no passwords. You sign in with a 6-digit code Span emails you, with your Google account, or through your company's identity provider if your organization uses single sign-on (SSO).

Why it matters

For users: knowing which sign-in path applies to you, and what each error means, gets you in without waiting on support.
For admins: most sign-in problems trace back to Access Type, the email on file, or SSO settings. The messages below tell you which.

How it works

The Log in to Span page offers two buttons. If you've signed in before on this browser, Span notes which one you used last time.

Continue with email

Enter your work email under "What's your email address?" and click Continue with email.
If your email domain uses SSO, Span sends you to your identity provider. Sign in there and you return to Span.
Otherwise, Span shows Enter verification code: "If your email belongs to an active Span account, a 6-digit code is on its way." The email's subject is "Sign in to Span".
Type the 6 digits. Span submits as soon as all six are in. Use Resend code for a new one, or Back to login to start over.

Continue with Google

More than one organization

If you belong to several Span organizations, Span shows a list after you sign in. Pick one, or type in Filter organizations... to find it. With one organization, Span takes you straight in.

Whichever path you use, Span finds your account by email address. You can sign in only if a Span organization has given that email account access.

Setup

There's nothing to set up as a user. Your Span admin gives you access by setting your Access Type to Account in People Management, or your identity provider does it through SCIM. If you've never received access, ask your Span admin.

Things to know

No code arrived

Span sends codes only to people with access. If your email doesn't match an account with access, Span sends nothing. It shows the same screen either way, so it never reveals whether an account exists.
You got "Sign-in to Span isn't available for your account" instead. Your account exists, but no organization currently gives you access. Ask your Span admin to set your Access Type to Account.
You got "Your Span account is suspended". Contact your Span admin or support@span.app.
Still nothing? Check the spelling of your email, then your spam and quarantine folders. Your IT team may need to allow email from Span.

Messages on the sign-in page

Message	What it means and what to do
Your organization uses SSO. Please sign in through your SSO portal.	Your email domain signs in through your identity provider. Use your company's SSO, or contact your IT team.
Too many sign-in attempts. Please wait about N minutes before trying again. If you believe you've been locked out in error, contact Span support at support@span.app.	Span limits code requests per email address: 3 a minute, 10 an hour, and 25 a day. Resend code counts as a request. The wait shows in seconds, minutes, or hours. Wait the time shown. A successful sign-in resets the limit.
Verification code must be 6 digits	Enter all six digits from the latest email. If a full code is wrong or expired, Span shows an error under the code boxes instead of signing you in; click Resend code for a new one.
Invalid email address format.	Check the email for typos.
Something went wrong. Contact support.	Span couldn't complete the request. Try again, then contact support@span.app.

Messages after Google or SSO ("Encountered error signing in")

Message	What it means and what to do
Account does not exist	No Span account matches the email your Google account or identity provider returned. This often happens when the identity provider sends an alias. Ask your admin to check your email in People Management.
Organization not associated with account.	You have a Span account, but no organization currently gives you access, for example because your Access Type was set to No account or you were marked terminated. Ask your Span admin.
Unauthorized.	Span couldn't complete the sign-in, for example because the sign-in link expired or was already used. Start again from the sign-in page.
Missing required parameters	The page opened without a complete sign-in link. Start again from the sign-in page.
An unexpected error occurred. Please contact support.	Contact support@span.app with the time you tried.

Other tips

Browser extensions. If the sign-in page or the code field doesn't respond, try a private window or turn off extensions for Span, then sign in again.
SSO checks identity, not access. Signing in to your identity provider works only if your Span organization has also given you account access.
Worked example: Sam requests a code three times in one minute because the first email was slow. The fourth request shows "Too many sign-in attempts" with a wait of under a minute. Sam enters the code from the most recent email, signs in, and the limit resets.

Need help?

Contact your Span account team or reach out to support@span.app.