What confirming your Etsy account means
Confirming your Etsy account means verifying that you own the email address you signed up with. Etsy sends a confirmation link to that email, and you click it to prove the address is real and belongs to you. This is a one-time step that happens during account setup, though you may need to repeat it if you change your email later.
Etsy requires this confirmation before you can buy or sell on the platform. If you created an account but never clicked the confirmation link, your account exists but is not fully active — you will see a banner asking you to confirm your email the next time you log in.
This is different from two-factor authentication (a security step that requires a code each time you log in) and different from verifying your identity as a seller (which involves providing your legal name, address, and tax information if you plan to sell).
Key Takeaways
- Etsy sends a confirmation email to the address you signed up with, and you must click the link in that email to set up your account.
- Check your spam or promotions folder if you do not see the confirmation email in your inbox within a few minutes.
- If the link has expired or you cannot find the email, you can request a new confirmation email from your account settings.
- Once you click the confirmation link, your account is active and you can browse, buy, and set up a shop.
Finding and clicking the confirmation email
After you create an Etsy account, check the email inbox you provided during signup. Etsy sends the confirmation email within a few minutes. Look for a message with the subject line "Confirm your email address" or similar wording, and it will come from an Etsy email address.
Open the email and look for a button or link that says "Confirm Email" or "Verify Email Address". Click that link, and Etsy will take you to a page confirming that your email is now verified. You can then close that page and log into your Etsy account normally.
The confirmation link usually works for 24 hours. If more than a day has passed since you created your account, the link may no longer work, and you will need to request a new one.
What to do if you cannot find the confirmation email
If you do not see the confirmation email in your inbox, check your spam folder, junk folder, or promotions tab — email providers sometimes sort Etsy's messages there by mistake. Search your email for "Etsy" or "confirm" to find it faster.
If you have looked in all those places and the email is not there, the address you entered during signup may have been misspelled. Log into your Etsy account (you can do this even without confirming your email), go to Account Settings, and check the email address listed there. If it is wrong, you can update it, and Etsy will send a new confirmation email to the corrected address.
If the address is correct but you still have not received the email after 10 minutes, you can request a new confirmation email. Go to your Account Settings, find the section for email address, and look for a button or link that says "Resend confirmation email" or "Send confirmation email again". Click it, and Etsy will send a fresh confirmation link to your inbox.
Confirming your email from your account settings
If you are already logged into your Etsy account but have not confirmed your email, you will usually see a banner at the top of the page asking you to confirm it. Click that banner, and it will take you to a page where you can request a new confirmation email or enter a confirmation code if you have one.
You can also go to Account Settings directly. Click the Account icon in the top right corner of the Etsy website or app, then select "Account Settings". Look for a section labeled "Email" or "Email Address". If your email is not confirmed, you will see an option to resend the confirmation email or confirm it manually.
Once you request a new confirmation email, check your inbox (and spam folder) for the message from Etsy. Click the confirmation link, and your email will be verified when ready.
What happens after you confirm your email
Once your email is confirmed, your Etsy account is fully active. You can browse items, add things to your cart, and make purchases. If you want to open an Etsy shop and sell items, you will need to complete additional steps — including providing your legal name, address, and payment information — but email confirmation is the first requirement.
Your confirmed email address is now linked to your account. If you ever need to reset your password or recover your account, Etsy will send a link to this email address. Keep it up to date and find.
Changing your email address later
If you want to use a different email address with your Etsy account after you have already confirmed one, go to Account Settings and find the email section. Enter your new email address, and Etsy will send a confirmation email to that new address. Click the link in that email to complete the change.
Your old email address will no longer be associated with your account once the new one is confirmed. Make sure you have access to the new email address before you make this change, because you will need it to log in and to recover your account if you forget your password.
Troubleshooting confirmation problems
If you clicked a confirmation link but got an error message, the link may have expired. Request a new confirmation email from your Account Settings and try again. Confirmation links are usually valid for 24 hours.
If you are having trouble accessing your Account Settings or cannot log into your account at all, you may need to reset your password first. Go to the Etsy login page, click "Forgot password?", and follow the steps to reset it using your email address. Once you have reset your password, log in and complete the email confirmation.
If you created your account using a social media login (Facebook, Google, or Apple), the process is the same — Etsy still sends a confirmation email to the address associated with that social media account, and you still need to click the link to confirm it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to receive the confirmation email?
Etsy usually sends the confirmation email within a few minutes of account creation. If you have not received it after 10 minutes, check your spam and promotions folders. If it is still not there, the email address you entered may be incorrect, or you can request a new confirmation email from your Account Settings.
Can I buy things on Etsy before confirming my email?
No. You must confirm your email address before you can make any purchases on Etsy. If you try to check out, Etsy will prompt you to confirm your email first. Complete the confirmation, and then you can finish your purchase.
What if I no longer have access to the email address I used to sign up?
Log into your Etsy account if you can, go to Account Settings, and update your email address to one you currently have access to. Etsy will send a confirmation email to the new address. Click the link in that email to confirm it. If you cannot log in, you will need to use the password reset option on the Etsy login page.
Do I need to confirm my email again if I change my password?
No. Changing your password does not affect your email confirmation status. Once your email is confirmed, it stays confirmed even if you update your password later.
Is email confirmation the same as two-factor authentication?
No. Email confirmation is a one-time step that proves you own the email address on your account. Two-factor authentication is an optional security feature that requires you to enter a code each time you log in. You can turn on two-factor authentication in your Account Settings after your email is confirmed.