How can I get an emailed security code without losing the login screen?

The background: To increase security for websites you need to log in to, many companies have turned to two-factor authentication. In many such cases, a time-sensitive code is sent to the email or text account the company has on file for you. This should thwart hackers, because they don’t have access to your email account. But by navigating to your email to retrieve that code, you could lose the login screen. Going back to it might reset the login process and make you start over again.

There is a simple solution: Just open a new browser tab. To do that, click the + symbol at the top of the browser window. With tab browsing, you can be on two (or more) websites at the same time, and click back and forth.

• What about my phone? On a mobile device, you’ll need to switch from the web browser app where the code is requested to the email app to get the code. Press and hold to copy the code inside the email. Then switch back to the web browser app and press and hold to paste the code there. Also, remember that all mobile devices have a way to see what apps you have open and toggle between them. This can make switching back and forth easier. On an iPhone, swipe up from the bottom. If you have an Android phone, tap the three vertical lines or the square at the bottom of your screen. —J.U.Z.

I have email on my cellphone and also on my tablet. To be safe, should I delete the email app on my phone in case I lose that device while out and about?

The issue here isn’t email security, it’s phone security. So go ahead and keep your email app on your phone. But do practice good phone security so that if your phone is lost or stolen, a stranger won’t have access to anything on it, email included. Enable security settings so that a PIN is required to unlock the phone. Or, if you have a newer model, enable facial recognition or a fingerprint scan. —J.U.Z.

AARP Tech Support