# How to complete email link verification

Stripe might email you a verification link to confirm your identity and protect your account when you attempt to log in or make sensitive changes. To complete verification, keep the original tab open and click the email’s Verify identity link using the same device and browser as the original tab.
Want even more security? Verify using a hardware security key, Windows Hello or Touch ID device, or passkey.
---
### Verify by email
Follow these steps after selecting the option to complete verification by email.
1. Leave your original tab open and using the same device and browser as the tab, check for an email from Stripe.
   * The email should arrive within 10 minutes.
   * Not receiving emails from Stripe? Check your spam folder or try these troubleshooting steps.
   * The subject of the verification email is **Your Stripe verification link**.
1. Review the email and confirm the information matches your intended action, platform, device location, and time. If it doesn't match, the email might be old or your account could be compromised.
1. Using the same device and browser as the original tab, click **Verify identity** in the email to complete verification.
1. Return to your original tab.
### Getting an error?
Clicking the **Verify identity** link sometimes results in a "We couldn't verify your identity" error. These are some common causes:
* **A different device and browser was used.** You must click the verification link in the same browser and on the same device as your original tab.
  * Example: If you’re using Chrome to log in to the Dashboard on your desktop and click the verification link using an email app on your phone, you’ll get an error. Instead, click the verification link on your desktop’s Chrome browser.
* **The link was clicked more than once.** Verification links expire after they’re clicked once.
* **The link of an old email was clicked.** When you request a new verification link, all previous links are invalidated. Check that you’re using the most recent verification email.
* **The link expired.** Verification links are only valid for 10 minutes.
* **A private browser was used.** Safari’s Private Browsing or Chrome’s Incognito mode won’t work for verification.