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PACER Multi-Factor Authentication Now Required for ECF Filing

Effective 8/1/2025, PACER now requires Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for electronic filing in applicable districts.

Emma Buchbinder avatar
Written by Emma Buchbinder
Updated over a week ago

To comply with new federal court security requirements, PACER now requires MFA for all filers in select districts, with other districts enrolling users at random. Filers will be prompted to enter a one-time passcode each time they submit a case or document.

What You Need to Do:

  1. Enable MFA on your PACER account:

    • Go to Manage My Account > Settings > Manage MFA Settings

    • Follow the steps to enable Multi-Factor Authentication

    • MFA is through a third party app. Users are reporting success with Google Authenticator and Microsoft Authenticator.

    • Download either app from the app store then following the instructions to connect it to your PACER account

    • Multifactor Authentication (MFA) – Authentication Applications - How to add and delete an authentication app

    • All MFA generates a code that you will enter into NextChapter upon filing. NextChapter is not providing codes and we do not need to be added to your authenticator app

  2. File as usual through NextChapter:

    • When prompted during the filing process, enter your PACER credentials

    • A one-time code will be sent to your selected MFA method

    • You’ll have 2 minutes to enter this code in NextChapter to complete the filing

If the code is not entered within the 2-minute window, the filing will not go through and will need to be restarted.

Need Help?

If you run into any issues enabling MFA or filing through NextChapter using this process, please contact the PACER Service Center at pacer@psc.uscourts.gov or (800) 676-6856 or refer to the following resources on PACER’s website:

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