# Logging in to DataUnfold
Welcome! This guide explains how to sign in to the DataUnfold application. It’s written for end users and covers the common login paths, troubleshooting steps, and security tips.
## Before you start ✅
– You should have an account provided by your organization or created during signup. If you do not have an account, contact your administrator or use the app’s “Sign up” flow if available.
– If you’re using a local development server, make sure the app is running
## Step-by-step: Log in using the web app 🔐
1. Open your web browser and go to the application URL provided by your organization
2. On the sign-in page, enter your email address or username in the “Email” or “Username” field.
3. Enter your password in the “Password” field.
4. (Optional) If a “Remember me” checkbox is present, check it only on trusted personal devices.
5. Click the **Sign in** or **Log in** button.
6. If your account requires two-factor authentication (2FA), follow the prompts to enter the verification code from your authenticator app or SMS message.
7. After successful authentication you’ll be redirected to the application dashboard.
## Single Sign-On (SSO) / OAuth ⚙️
– If your organization uses SSO (e.g., Google, Microsoft Azure AD, or another provider), click the provider button (“Sign in with Google”, “Sign in with Microsoft”, etc.) and follow the provider’s authentication flow.
– If you are redirected to your organization’s sign-in page, complete the flow there; you will return to DataUnfold after a successful sign-in.
## Forgot your password? 🔁
1. Click the **Forgot password** or **Reset password** link on the sign-in page.
2. Enter the email address associated with your account and follow the instructions sent to your email.
3. If you do not receive a reset email, check your spam/junk folder and ensure your mailbox is correct. Contact support or your administrator if problems persist.
## Common issues & troubleshooting ⚠️
– Incorrect credentials: Double-check your username/email and password. Pay attention to letter case and extra spaces.
– Account locked: Multiple failed sign-in attempts may lock your account. Contact your administrator or support to unlock it.
– 2FA problems: If you lost access to your authenticator app or phone, contact your admin or follow your organization’s account recovery steps.
– Local server not running: If you’re using a local instance for development or testing, ensure both the frontend and backend are running. For the frontend, run `npm start` in the `app/v2` folder; for the backend, start the server as instructed in the project README.
## Security tips 🔐
– Use a strong, unique password and enable 2FA if your account supports it.
– Do not use “Remember me” on shared machines.
– Log out when you finish using the application on public or shared computers.
## Need help? 📞
If you still can’t sign in, reach out to your system administrator or the support channel for your organization and provide:
– Your account email/username
– A brief description of the issue (including any error messages)
– The time (with timezone) when the issue occurred
