There are a few reasons you might be unable to log in to your researcher account. This article explains the most common issues, what you can try yourself, and when you’ll need our Support Team to step in.
I forgot my password
How to reset your password:
Go to the Prolific login page
Click “Forgot password?”
Enter the email address linked to your Prolific account
Follow the instructions in the password reset email
After resetting your password, wait up to 10 minutes before logging in. Our system needs time to recognize your new password.
I didn't receive the password reset email
If the email doesn't arrive within a few minutes:
Check your spam or junk folder
Search your inbox for [email protected]
Make sure you entered the correct email address
If you still don't receive the email, contact support, we may need to check your account or email delivery manually.
I no longer have access to my email address
If you can’t access the email linked to your Prolific account (for example, an old institutional email), we’ll need to verify your account and update it manually.
Please contact our support team so we can help you regain access.
I can’t get passed multi-factor authentication (MFA)
If you're having trouble accessing your authentication app, click the "Try another method" link at the bottom of your screen. There, you'll need to enter the recovery code you received when you first signed into the authenticator app.
If you don't have your recovery code or are still experiencing problems, please get in touch with our support team.
For more information, see Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Account temporarily locked or on hold (PEC-AS-0006)
If you see a PEC-AS-0006 error, your account has been temporarily locked to keep it secure.
Please contact support so we can review and unlock your account.
Common triggers include:
Multiple failed login attempts
Mistyped email or password (often from autofill)
Using a VPN or proxy
Automated security checks
Once unlocked, double-check:
Your email and password are typed correctly
VPNs or proxies are turned off
Your browser isn’t autofilling incorrect details
reCAPTCHA error (PEC-AS-0005)
This error means our system couldn’t confirm you’re a human rather than a bot.
Try the following:
Use a different browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari)
Try a different device
Turn off ad blockers or privacy extensions
Disable browser extensions temporarily
Restart your router (if on Wi-Fi)
Run an anti-malware scan, as malware can sometimes interfere with reCAPTCHA checks
If the error persists, contact support so we can investigate further.
Other things to check
Supported browsers
We officially support the latest versions of:
Desktop: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera
Mobile: Chrome, iOS Safari, Firefox Mobile, Opera Mobile
If you’re having issues, try updating or switching browsers.
Password managers
Our login URL is https://app.prolific.com.
If you use a password manager, you may need to:
Re-enter your login details manually
Update the saved entry in your password manager
Time and date settings
For security reasons, your device’s date, time, and timezone must be accurate.
You can check this at time.is—you should see “Your time is exact!”
Clear cookies and site data
If you have been through the above and are still experiencing problems, we suggest you clear your browser's cookies and site data and try again. Sometimes, we just need to blow away the cobwebs!