By: Money Navigator Research Team
Last Reviewed: 12/02/2026
FACT CHECKED
Quick Summary
In Tide, “SMS verification lockouts” are usually the result of rate limits and safety controls around one-time passcodes:
- Too many incorrect entries on a code
- Too many code requests within a 24-hour window
- A recovery flow that requires additional checks when logging in again (for example after reinstalling the app)
Recovery is typically a documented sequence:
- Request a new code (resetting attempts)
- Wait for request limits to reset if reached
- Or follow Tide’s account recovery steps where SMS is one stage in a broader identity check
This article is educational and not financial advice.
What Tide uses SMS verification for
Tide uses SMS one-time passcodes (OTPs) in scenarios where it needs to confirm that the person attempting access controls the registered mobile number, especially during recovery-style login journeys.
In Tide’s “new device / reinstall” guidance, SMS OTPs sit inside a full account recovery flow (email link > SMS OTP > selfie check), rather than being treated as a standalone login method.
That flow is described in Tide’s support article on logging in from a new device, which directs users through account recovery steps and explains that checks can take time to complete. You can read that flow in Tide’s own guidance at How do I log in after reinstalling the app or using a new device?.
What a “lockout” usually means in Tide SMS verification
It helps to separate three different failure modes that feel like “lockout”, but have different causes and different recovery paths.
1) Too many incorrect attempts on the same code
Tide states that it only allows a limited number of attempts to enter an SMS verification code correctly. If the limit is reached, requesting a new SMS sends a new code and provides further attempts. This is explicitly described in I got my SMS verification code wrong multiple times – what should I do?.
Practical implication: the “lockout” here is often tied to a specific code (and your attempts on that code), rather than a permanent account restriction.
2) Too many code requests in a 24-hour period
Tide also states there is a cap on how many SMS codes can be requested within any 24-hour period, and notes that if the request limit is reached, trying again the following day is the expected path. That is also stated in I got my SMS verification code wrong multiple times – what should I do?.
Practical implication: this is the most common “I can’t do anything now” moment, because the throttle is time-based rather than “request a new code and continue”.
3) Recovery checks where SMS is only one step
In some journeys (notably “new device / reinstall”), SMS is a step within a larger process that can include identity verification. Tide’s “new device” guidance describes a selfie step and states that checks usually complete within a stated timeframe, with rare cases taking longer.
This matters because a user can receive and enter an SMS OTP successfully and still be waiting for recovery checks to finish. See Tide’s description in How do I log in after reinstalling the app or using a new device?.
Practical implication: a delay after entering the code may not be an SMS delivery problem; it can be the downstream recovery process.
What triggers SMS verification lockouts most often
Repeated incorrect entry (human error and timing)
The most direct trigger is simply entering the wrong code enough times to hit Tide’s attempt limit for that code. Time-sensitive OTPs add a second failure mode: a correct code can become unusable if it expires before entry (or if a newer code has been issued).
Tide’s account recovery guide explicitly notes that one-time passcodes are time-sensitive and may require requesting a new SMS if it was not entered in time. This is set out in Account recovery.
Requesting “resends” frequently
Requesting multiple codes in a short period (especially when the earlier one arrives late) can contribute to hitting the 24-hour request cap. Tide is explicit that a request limit exists to reduce abuse, and that if the cap is reached the next attempt may need to wait until the following day. See I got my SMS verification code wrong multiple times – what should I do?.
SMS delivery disruption that looks like “lockout”
Not receiving a code is not the same as being locked out, but it often leads to repeated resends, which can then collide with the request limit.
Tide’s account recovery troubleshooting includes checks for: confirming the last digits of the mobile number shown match the registered number, checking network signal, reviewing SMS blocking settings (including “unknown senders”), waiting for delays, and restarting the phone.
Those steps appear in Account recovery. Separately, Tide also provides a simpler “try sending a new code after a minute” instruction in I never received my SMS verification code – what should I do?.
Device changes and recovery journeys
Reinstalling the app, moving to a new phone, or attempting access in a new device context can push the user into account recovery, where SMS is required as part of the sequence. In those circumstances, an SMS problem becomes a “full access” problem because it blocks the recovery flow from progressing.
If device constraints are part of the underlying issue (for example, OS support or access channel limitations), that is treated separately in our access-channel explainer: Device and browser requirements for Tide.
Security context: why SMS OTPs are throttled at all
SMS OTP limits exist to make brute-force guessing and automated abuse harder, and also to reduce the harm from telecoms-related vulnerabilities.
For example, Ofcom describes SIM-swap fraud as a vulnerability where an attacker can gain control of a victim’s number and then access one-time security passcodes sent by SMS. This is discussed in Ofcom’s paper on scams and telecoms vulnerabilities at Tackling scam calls and texts: Ofcom’s role and approach. The NCSC similarly discusses risks and mitigations around SMS used in critical business processes in Protecting SMS messages used in critical business processes.
These scheme-level realities help explain why apps cap attempt counts and throttle resend requests, even when the user experience feels harsh.
What recovery looks like (based on Tide’s documented steps)
If the issue is “wrong code too many times”
Tide describes requesting a new SMS code as the next step, because it generates a new code and provides further attempts. That is described in I got my SMS verification code wrong multiple times – what should I do?.
If the issue is “not receiving the SMS”
Tide’s account recovery guide lists a structured set of checks (number digits match, network signal, SMS blocking settings, delays, resend, restart) and separately notes the possibility that the code expired and needs replacing. Those steps are set out in Account recovery.
If the issue is “new device / reinstall”
Tide’s guidance frames this as account recovery rather than a simple login retry. It describes entering the email associated with the account, using a recovery email link on the same device, receiving an SMS OTP, and completing a selfie step, followed by checks. This flow is described in How do I log in after reinstalling the app or using a new device?.
If the registered phone number is wrong or inaccessible (including team members)
For team members, Tide describes how incorrect email or phone details can be corrected within the app under personal details, with changes approved by a code (email or SMS depending on what is being changed). That is described in What happens if I added incorrect details for a Team Member?.
For broader access issues where in-app support is unavailable, Tide provides a contact route on its website at Contact Tide.
For related internal context on identity and document checks (which can sit alongside recovery processes), see Tide ID and verification documents: what’s needed and why.
Summary Table
| Scenario | Outcome | Practical impact |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong code entered repeatedly | Attempt limit reached for that code | A new code may be required to continue; repeated errors can escalate into resend throttling |
| Multiple resends in a short window | 24-hour request limit reached | SMS verification may be blocked until the time window resets |
| SMS arrives late | Earlier code may expire or be superseded | Users can enter the “right” digits but still fail verification if the code is no longer valid |
| Phone number mismatch | OTP sent to a different registered number | “Not receiving code” troubleshooting should start with confirming the number shown matches the intended number |
| New device / reinstall | Account recovery flow triggered | SMS becomes one step in a broader identity process; time-to-access can depend on checks completing |
| Telecom risk event (e.g., SIM-swap) | OTPs can be intercepted or misdirected | Providers use throttles and recovery checks to reduce the impact of telecom vulnerabilities |
Scenario Table
| Scenario-level | Process-level | Outcome-level |
|---|---|---|
| Incorrect entry lockout | Limited attempts per code > request new SMS to reset attempts | Access continues when a new code is issued and entered correctly |
| Resend throttle | Cap on codes requested within a 24-hour period | Further code requests may be blocked until the window resets |
| Delivery failure | Number check > signal check > SMS blocking settings > delay/resend cycle | Issue resolves without changing the account when delivery succeeds |
| Expiry failure | Time-sensitive OTP expires > request fresh OTP | Entry succeeds only with an in-window code |
| Recovery journey | Email link (same device) > SMS OTP > selfie > checks | Access depends on completing each stage; SMS alone is not sufficient |
| Team member detail error | Phone/email corrected in-app > approval via code | Access restoration depends on completing the change approval step |
Tide Business Bank Account
Tide is an app-first business account experience where authentication and recovery steps (including SMS OTPs) sit alongside device requirements and role-based access. For a neutral product overview and positioning context, see our Tide business account review.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. An SMS verification lockout usually refers to an authentication bottleneck: too many incorrect OTP attempts, too many resends in a time window, or inability to complete account recovery because the SMS stage cannot be passed.
An account “locked” or “frozen” is generally understood as a restriction on account functionality (for example, payments) rather than a failure to authenticate. Those are separate operational states and are treated separately in Tide account locked or frozen: what usually still works.
Yes. Tide states it allows only a limited number of attempts to enter an SMS verification code correctly, which is presented as a security measure to reduce abuse.
The practical edge case is that repeated retries can create two layers of friction: first the per-code attempt limit, and then the 24-hour resend limit if multiple codes are requested while trying to resolve the issue.
Tide states there is a limit to how many SMS codes can be requested within any 24-hour period, again positioned as a security control to reduce abuse.
Operationally, this type of limit matters because it changes the failure mode: it is not always possible to “keep trying” in real time. A user can be blocked from requesting further codes until the time window resets, even if the underlying issue was simply delayed SMS delivery.
Within Tide’s account recovery guidance, one-time passcodes are described as time-sensitive, and an expired code can require requesting a new one.
The practical implication is that “the code was correct” and “the code was accepted” are not the same statement. Timing and sequence matter, especially if multiple codes were requested and delivered out of order.
Tide’s recovery troubleshooting focuses on delivery conditions: confirming the last digits of the phone number shown match the registered number, checking network signal, and reviewing device SMS blocking settings (such as blocking unknown senders), alongside waiting briefly for delays and requesting a resend.
A common edge case is that the SMS arrives after a newer code has been issued, which can look like “the app is rejecting the correct code”. In practice, the app can be expecting the most recent OTP rather than an earlier one.
Tide frames access after reinstalling the app or logging in on a new device as “account recovery”, not a simple login repeat. That flow includes a recovery email link, an SMS OTP stage, and an identity verification step (selfie), followed by checks.
The practical implication is that SMS is part of a layered recovery design. Passing the SMS step can still leave a user in a “waiting for checks” state, which feels like “lockout” even when the OTP has been accepted.
Team members can have their own access journeys, and Tide describes how team member contact details (email or phone number) can be updated in-app under personal details, with changes approved by a code sent via email or SMS depending on what is being changed.
The edge case is that a team member can be blocked from receiving OTPs if the phone number on record is incorrect or inaccessible, which is a data accuracy issue rather than a security throttle. The recovery path then becomes “correct the detail and complete approval” rather than “keep resending OTPs”.
Device requirements do not directly cause SMS throttling, but they can prevent a user reaching the point where the recovery flow can be completed smoothly. For example, if the app cannot run reliably on the device, the recovery journey can fail before or after the SMS stage.
That distinction is important in troubleshooting: a user can be correctly authorised and have the right phone number, but still be blocked by device and access-channel constraints explained in Device and browser requirements for Tide.
Tide’s access model is app-led for key authentication flows, and its recovery steps are designed around completing stages within the app (email link opened on the same device, followed by SMS OTP entry, then identity checks). In those cases, web access does not replace the need for successful authentication within the recovery flow.
The practical implication is that “web access differences” are usually about convenience and screen size, not bypassing authentication steps. If SMS is required for recovery, the recovery journey still depends on receiving and entering the OTP.
They can serve both purposes. Throttling attempts makes brute-force guessing less feasible and reduces the impact of repeated incorrect entry, while also limiting the harm from telecom vulnerabilities where SMS OTPs could be intercepted.
The ICO explicitly notes that multi-factor options vary in resilience and that SMS-based factors can be exposed to SIM-swap risks in its learning review on brute-force incidents at Brute force attacks. That broader context helps explain why “lockouts” are sometimes strict, even when the user is legitimate.
SMS OTP “lockouts” are best understood as the interaction between three constraints:
- SMS is not a guaranteed real-time delivery channel
- One-time passcodes are designed to be short-lived and non-reusable
- Providers cap retries and resends to reduce abuse and reduce the impact of telecom vulnerabilities
When those constraints collide, the user experience is often described as a lockout even though the underlying mechanism is a time-bound throttle.
In Tide’s design, SMS OTPs also appear as part of layered recovery journeys where identity checks can continue after the SMS stage. That means “I entered the code” is not always the end of the access story.
For businesses, the practical control is recognising that authentication (getting into the app) and authorisation (what the user can do once inside) are separate dimensions, and that SMS OTP reliability becomes an operational dependency in app-first banking workflows.
Sources & References
I got my SMS verification code wrong multiple times – what should I do? | Tide Business
I never received my SMS verification code – what should I do? | Tide Business
Protecting SMS messages used in critical business processes | NCSC
Fraud sector charter: telecommunications (accessible version) – GOV.UK
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