> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.defguard.net/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.defguard.net/for-developers/rest-api/core/auth/start-email-mfa-setup.md).

# Start email MFA setup

Applies to the user of the current session.

```json
{"openapi":"3.1.0","info":{"title":"defguard Core API","version":"2.0.3"},"tags":[{"name":"auth","description":"User authentication, second authentication factor and session management."}],"security":[{"cookie":[]},{"api_token":[]}],"components":{"securitySchemes":{"cookie":{"type":"apiKey","in":"cookie","name":"defguard_session"},"api_token":{"type":"http","scheme":"bearer"}},"schemas":{"ApiErrorResponse":{"type":"object","description":"Body returned with error responses.","required":["msg"],"properties":{"code":{"type":["string","null"],"description":"Machine-readable error code, returned for selected errors."},"msg":{"type":"string","description":"Human-readable error message."}}}}},"paths":{"/api/v1/auth/email/init":{"post":{"tags":["auth"],"summary":"Start email MFA setup","description":"Applies to the user of the current session.","operationId":"email_mfa_init","responses":{"200":{"description":"Configuration started, email code sent."},"401":{"description":"Session is missing or invalid.","content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/ApiErrorResponse"}}}},"500":{"description":"Unable to start email MFA configuration.","content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/ApiErrorResponse"}}}},"503":{"description":"SMTP is not configured.","content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/ApiErrorResponse"}}}}}}}}}
```