The Overwatch 2 authentication not working issue has been preventing players from experiencing the new game.
And now that the original Overwatch has been shut down, anyone who wants to play Overwatch needs to overcome this problem, along with other annoying issues like the login error and crashing in Overwatch 2.
We'll explain everything we know about the authentication issue on Overwatch 2. It's certainly fair to say that it has stirred up some controversy...
How To Fix The Mobile Authentication Error On Overwatch 2
At the time of writing, Blizzard hasn't directly offered any kind of solution for this particular issue. Which isn't exactly helpful.
There don't appear to be many workarounds either. Because of the nature of the problem (which we'll get into shortly) the user is extremely limited in terms of what they might be able to do about it.
One other point that is incredibly important, not to mention potentially hugely divisive: the verification system is incompatible with pre-paid and VOIP numbers. So if your number is one of these, then you are, to all intents and purposes, stuck.
Otherwise, in terms of preventative measures, it's really important to make sure that you enter your details accurately. Some players have entered the wrong phone number, or linked their account to the wrong country, which then means they can't authenticate their accounts properly. So avoiding these mistakes is one potential way of preventing this issue.
It's also important to make sure that your mobile number isn't linked to a different Battle.net account. If it is, this will also stop you from completing the authentication process.
If however, you are already beyond that stage, or you know you entered your details correctly, but you're still unable to authenticate your account? Well, in this situation, you are currently left with no option but to submit a ticket to the Blizzard Support team, who will get back to you with further assistance in due course.
Be warned though: they appear to be extremely busy at the moment, with some players having to wait in excess of seven days before hearing back.
But what exactly is the Overwatch 2 authentication issue? We'll cover that next.
Try Again Later
One of the only ways of getting past this block is to simply wait. As is the same with other 2FA services, sometimes the service gets blocked up. With this in mind, waiting is usually the only solution.
This is infuriating as there’s usually no telling how long you’ll have to wait to get in. From our experience, it usually takes an hour or so for the 2FA system to fix itself.
It’s also worth noting that you shouldn’t try to use the authentication over and over again. This will only confuse the Overwatch 2 authentication even more.
What Causes the Overwatch 2 Authentication Error?
As part of the launch of Overwatch 2, Blizzard has introduced a new security protocol they call Defence Matrix. With Overwatch 2 being released as a free-to-play game, Blizzard had concerns about disruptive behaviour and gameplay.
For example, one known issue is something called 'Smurfing' where experienced players were using a different account to then compete against much less experienced and less skilled players.
In order to deter this and other antisocial behaviours, Blizzard has introduced 2FA (two-factor authentication), without which players will not be able to play Overwatch 2.
However, the authentication not working error is affecting players in a couple of different ways. Some are being told that the mobile number is linked to a different Battle.net account (this is possible if your number has been recycled for example). Others are just not receiving the verification code text that will enable them to complete authentication.
As we said above, this is definitely an issue that is outwith the control of the player. We will need to wait for Blizzard to sort this out. We'd suggest following their official Twitter feed, as this will likely be one of the first places that they will provide an update on this.
Apart from that, submitting a support ticket and waiting is pretty much your only option at this stage.