An authentication error means our servers didn't accept your login. The cause is almost always one of the following, and most take only a minute to fix.

1. Check your username and password

• Use your Fast Usenet username, not your email address, and the same password you use for the members area.
• Both are case sensitive, so "John" and "john" are different. Please type them in by hand rather than pasting, to avoid hidden spaces.
• Changed your password recently? Please update it in your newsreader too.
• Forgot your details? Use Reset your password or Forgot your username.

2. Check your account in the members area

Log in to the members area. Your dashboard shows whether your Usenet Access is active, and what to do if it isn't:

• Monthly limit reached (6 GB, 15 GB and 35 GB plans): your allowance comes back on your renewal date, or you can move to a bigger plan with Change Plan.
• Free trial data used up: click Activate my plan now to start your paid plan right away.
• A payment didn't go through: click Update card & reactivate, or Reactivate my account if you pay with PayPal.
• Your membership has ended: click Reactivate my account to come back with the same username.

3. Check where you're connecting from

• Your account can be used from one internet address at a time. If a device on another network, or a VPN on a different server, is still connected with your account, please close it first.
• Your account allows up to 50 connections. Setting your newsreader to 45 leaves room for older connections to close.

Still having trouble? Please open a support ticket with your username and the exact error message, and we'll be glad to help. For your security, please never send us your password.