---
type: concept
title: Emergency Email Address
tags: [account-recovery, security, self-service]
related: [zentraler-nutzeraccount, ums]
created: 2026-06-30
updated: 2026-06-30
sources: ["output/rz_uni_greifswald_de_dienste_allgemein_zentraler_nutzeraccount_kennwort_vergesse.md"]
---

# Emergency Email Address

An **Emergency Email Address** (Notfall-E-Mail-Adresse) is a pre-configured recovery email address used to regain access to a [[zentraler-nutzeraccount]] when primary credentials or second-factor authentication (TOTP) are lost.

## Role in Account Recovery
The emergency email address is a mandatory prerequisite for using the electronic self-service recovery features provided by the [[ums]]. Without this address, users cannot reset their passwords or TOTP secrets remotely.

## Recovery Workflows
- **Password Recovery:** If the primary password is forgotten, the [[ums]] uses the emergency email to facilitate a password reset.
- **TOTP Recovery:** If the TOTP secret is lost but the primary password is known, the emergency email allows the user to reset the second factor.

## Importance
The URZ strongly recommends the timely setup of an emergency email address to avoid the necessity of appearing in person at the URZ with a physical ID for account restoration.