Degraded Performance: Delays in Outbound SMS Delivery

Update timeline

1. investigating Oct 28, 2026, 04:45 PM UTC

   On October 28, 2026, at 9:45 AM PT, the Engineering Team became aware of an issue with the email service that caused delayed or failed delivery of outbound SMS messages, including two-factor authentication (2FA) verification codes and SMS alerts. Initial findings indicate this is tied to a service disruption with our upstream telephony provider, China Mobile. Users waiting on verification codes may experience delays of several minutes. If available, please opt for backup verification methods such as authenticator apps or email. We are actively working with the provider to monitor the situation and will share our next update as soon as more information becomes available. Affected cells: okta-emea.com:1, okta.com:1, okta.com:2, okta.com:3, okta.com:4, okta.com:6, okta.com:7, oktapreview.com:1, oktapreview.com:2, okta.com:8, okta.com:9, okta.com:11, okta.com:12, oktapreview.com:3, okta.com:14, okta.com:16, okta.com:17, okta.com:18, okta.com:19, okta.com:20, okta.com:22, okta.com:23

2. identified Oct 28, 2026, 07:16 PM UTC

   We are continuing to monitor the downstream carrier disruption affecting outbound SMS delivery and two-factor authentication (2FA) verification codes. This issue is isolated to phone numbers on the China Mobile network, including numbers originally provisioned under China Mobile and subsequently ported to other carriers. If your mobile number is not affiliated with China Mobile, your service is unaffected, and no action is required on your part. Impacted users may continue to experience failed deliveries or significant delays and should use alternative authentication factors where available, such as an authenticator app, hardware security key, or email verification. Our team remains in close contact with our telephony providers and carrier partners to track resolution progress, and we will share our next update as soon as new information becomes available.

3. identified Oct 29, 2026, 11:05 PM UTC

   As of October 29, 2026, Okta teams continue to monitor the disruption affecting outbound SMS delivery to China Mobile numbers. Users attempting to receive two-factor authentication (2FA) verification codes or SMS alerts via China Mobile may still experience failed deliveries or significant delays. We're monitoring mitigation progress with our third-party downstream provider, and this remains a top priority for our key partner, with visibility at the executive level. In the interim, impacted end users are strongly encouraged to use alternative secondary verification options where enabled, such as authenticator apps (e.g., Okta Verify, TOTP) or email-based verification. We will provide updates as new information becomes available.

4. identified Oct 30, 2026, 11:03 PM UTC

   Okta teams continue to monitor efforts to resolve the SMS delivery disruption affecting two-factor authentication (2FA) codes on the China Mobile network. We will provide our next scheduled status update on Monday, November 2, 2026, or sooner if full resolution is achieved earlier. During this period, we recommend that impacted users sign in using alternative secondary verification factors, such as authenticator apps (Okta Verify, Google Authenticator, or other TOTP tools), hardware security keys, or email-based verification. If SMS authentication is strictly required and your team faces urgent access blockers with no alternative methods available, please have your account administrator contact our Support team to review alternative delivery routing options for your account. We appreciate your patience while we work with our partners to restore standard delivery.