Hi! When a sign-in or identity check keeps saying “start over”, it usually isn’t that you typed everything wrong — it’s often the verification flow losing state (session expired), hitting a policy rule, or getting stuck in a redirect loop.

We’ll keep this low-risk: no “spam the button,” no disabling security blindly, and no sharing codes with anyone.

To understand the pattern, can you tell me:
1) Which service is it (Google/Microsoft/Apple, work SSO like Okta, banking, streaming, etc.)?
2) Where does it ask to start over — after entering a code, after CAPTCHA, after “verify it’s you,” or right after you log in?
3) Did it begin after a change (password reset, new phone, new browser, VPN, travel, device update)?

That’s a helpful description. The “start over” message right after a code is commonly linked to one of these buckets:

• Session/cookie problem: the verification step completes, but the browser can’t store the session token, so it resets and sends you back.
• Redirect/SSO loop: you’re bounced between login pages (account page ↔ app ↔ verification) and it loses the “verified” flag.
• Cooldown/rate limiting: too many attempts can cause generic errors that force the flow to restart.
• Method mismatch: the account expects a different second factor (app approval vs SMS vs email), but the flow keeps recycling the same step.

Quick clarifiers (before doing anything):
1) Is the code coming via SMS, email, or an authenticator app/push notification?
2) Do you have any ad-block/privacy extensions enabled (or strict tracking prevention)?
3) Do you see a “try again later” / “too many attempts” message at any point?

Got it — authenticator + privacy tools + a cooldown is the perfect recipe for a “verification keeps restarting” loop.

A couple safety notes first (because these loops can spiral):
• Don’t keep re-trying right now if you’re seeing “too many attempts.” It can extend the cooldown and reduce available options temporarily.
• Don’t approve unexpected Authenticator prompts. If you see a prompt you didn’t initiate, that’s a red flag for an account takeover attempt.

Low-impact diagnostics that don’t change your account settings:

1) One-tab test: close all sign-in tabs/windows. Verification flows can invalidate each other if multiple tabs are open.

2) Clean session test: try a private/incognito window (or a fresh Chrome profile) and do only one sign-in attempt. This checks whether cookies/session storage is failing and forcing “start over.”

3) Extension interference check: for one test only, disable privacy/ad-block extensions (or use a browser profile with no extensions). Some verification pages rely on third-party cookies/redirects, and blocking them can cause a restart loop.

4) Time-sync sanity check: ensure your phone’s date/time is set automatically. Authenticator-based steps can fail silently if there’s time skew.

Yes, that “I approved it, then it forgot” symptom is strongly aligned with session state not sticking — either cookies are blocked, the session is being cleared, or a redirect chain is dropping a token.

Another angle to consider (just to be thorough):
• Network changes: switching between Wi-Fi and hotspot or toggling VPN can make the system treat it as a different sign-in attempt and restart the flow.
• Multiple device paths: signing in on laptop, then opening the same login on phone, then back to laptop can confuse the “current” verification transaction if you bounce around.

Quick check: while testing, can you keep it to one device + one network, and avoid VPN completely? That gives us a clean signal about whether it’s truly a browser/session problem.

Totally understandable — most people do exactly that when they’re stuck. The goal now is to simplify the pattern so the system stops asking you to start over.

Here’s the diagnostic logic (without turning it into a “hack”):
• If one clean attempt works after cooldown + stable network, the issue was likely rate limiting + transaction confusion (multiple attempts/devices).
• If it still fails only in one browser, it points to cookies, site data, or extensions blocking sign-in completion.
• If it fails in every browser/device, it leans toward account policy enforcement, MFA method requirements, or the service having a temporary verification issue.

One more question (risk angle): when it says “start over,” does it show a specific error code, or is it just generic?

That concern is valid — which is why the safest strategy is fewer attempts, not more.

If you want to avoid a deeper lockout while you troubleshoot, keep these guardrails:
• Don’t keep requesting new prompts/codes repeatedly during a cooldown window.
• Don’t “cycle” passwords or turn off MFA while you’re mid-loop (that can trigger additional checks).
• Watch for phishing: no legitimate support will ask you to read out a verification code or approve a surprise prompt.

The cleanest next step is to wait until the “too many attempts” effect cools down, then do one controlled sign-in attempt with one network + one browser profile, and document exactly what it does (screens, wording, and where it restarts). That documentation is also what you’d use if you need official support to see it’s a verification transaction loop, not just “wrong password.”

Exactly. And if you notice a change — like it finally offers a different verification method, the CAPTCHA disappears, or the “start over” message stops showing — that’s a signal the loop was being driven by cooldown and inconsistent sign-in attempts.

If it keeps restarting even on a clean profile, that’s when we’d treat it as an authentication/verification policy issue (or an SSO redirect chain issue) and focus on capturing the details the platform needs to diagnose it, without guessing risky steps.

You’re not alone — “start over” is one of the least helpful messages because it hides whether the cause is cookies, cooldown, a redirect loop, or a factor requirement mismatch.

Keep the test simple, keep attempts minimal, and treat any unexpected verification prompts as suspicious. That approach protects the account while you narrow down the real cause.