Why Project Pokemon Forums Now Requires Email and Password to Sign In

Updated

Project Pokemon Forums switched its sign-in method from username + password to email + password on September 1. The change was announced in advance on July 29, and it applies to everyone who has an account on the site. If you try to log in with your username now, it won't work — you need the email address associated with your account.

Why the change was made

Two reasons were given in the announcement:

  • Account security. A username is publicly visible on every post you make, so anyone browsing the forum already knows half of your login credentials. An email address is not displayed on your posts, so switching to it removes that exposed piece of information.
  • A required upgrade. The forum is preparing to move to Invision Community 5, and the next version of that software requires email + password sign-in. Rather than change everything at once during the upgrade, the site made the sign-in switch early.

The announcement notes that the upgrade itself has no confirmed date or details yet, and that more information will be shared when available.

What you need to do

  1. Go to the sign-in page and enter the email address tied to your forum account, plus your password.
  2. If the login succeeds, nothing else changes — your posts, messages, and account history stay as they were.
  3. If you don't remember which email you used, check your Account Settings page while you still have access, and make a note of it.

The announcement specifically calls out the forgotten-email case: if you're unsure of your address, record it from Account Settings before you need it. If you're already locked out or have other questions, the post suggests replying to the announcement thread, sending a direct message to the staff member who posted it (evandixon), or using the Contact Us form at the bottom of the page.

A related note for Patreon supporters

The same July announcement mentions that Patreon income had not covered server costs for several months, so ads are returning to help pay for hosting. Active patrons are exempt from ads regardless of the final ad setup. If you're a patron and still see ads while signed in, the post asks you to send a direct message on the site, on Patreon, or via the Contact Us form.

Quick answers

Do I log in with my username anymore? No. Username + password no longer works; use email + password.

When did this take effect? September 1, following the July 29 announcement.

Is this optional? No — it's a requirement of the upcoming Invision Community 5 upgrade.

I forgot my email. What now? Check Account Settings for the address on file, or contact staff through the announcement thread, a direct message, or the Contact Us form.