> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://snubmonkey.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Ghost CLI Backups Broken? Blame 2FA — and Here’s the Workaround.
- URL: https://snubmonkey.com/ghost-cli-backups-broken-blame-2fa-and-heres-the-workaround/
- Published: 2025-05-29T22:35:08.000Z
- Updated: 2025-12-09T00:08:20.000Z
- Author: SNUBmonkeyteam
- Tags: issues 🛠, ghost cms

⚠️ **Worth mentioning**: We at SNUBmonkey™ was the **first to report** this issue to the Ghost community —all the way back on **April 19, 2025**.  
  
**Well, here's the ugly truth:**   
the `ghost backup` CLI command —yes, **the one we've relied on for ages** —is now *dead in the water*. We're stuck with a broken backup system and no official fix.

### **Why?**

Because **Ghost** decided to implement 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) for staff logins. Great for security (in theory), but **an absolute mess** for automation and CLI-based processes.  

## **The Error**

You'll likely see this annoying and freaky response:

```
✖ Backing up site
An error occurred.
Message: 'Response code 500 (Internal Server Error)'
```

That's it. No real hint, no proper explanation.  
Just a vague **HTTP 500** response after trying to run your regular backup process.

### **Why?**

Because the CLI tool doesn't understand or support 2FA.  
**Ghost** added a security layer —**but didn't think through its impact** on their own tooling. 

**Let's say this louder and clear**:  
If you're going to force 2FA, your CLI tools should support it. Period. Otherwise, you're breaking production workflows.

### 

## **Imagine This…**

Imagine not being able to back up all your blog posts, images, themes —everything you've built over **years** of work. Just locked out, with no way to safely archive or migrate your data. That's **not** acceptable.

Backups are **not optional**. They are the **core of modern security hygiene** —especially today, when ransomware, DDoS attacks, and zero-days are daily headlines. We're no longer living in the early 2000s. This is 2025\. The world is hostile, and your content must be protected.

When a platform blocks you from making backups —whether intentionally or through poor planning — it’s a serious problem.  

## **The Dirty Workaround**

After digging (and cursing) through Ghost forums and testing in production (yeah, we went there), here's the temp fix:  
  
Inside your Ghost config file (*config.production.json*), you **must** disable device verification:

```
"security": {
  "staffDeviceVerification": false
}
```

That's the magic line.   
This tells Ghost **not** to email you a **2FA** code every time it sees a new login —which breaks the CLI backup command.

```
"security": {
  "staffDeviceVerification": false
}
```

You'll find *config.production.json* in the root of your Ghost install.   
After making your edits, don't forget to restart Ghost so the changes can take effect:

```
$ ghost restart
```

##   
**⚠️ Important Notes**  

- This **reduces** your security —obviously. Use at your own risk.
- Ghost needs to come up with a real fix — ike allowing CLI tokens or OAuth-based auth for automation.

  
We are all for better security, but breaking your **own** tools in the name of it? That's not security —that's just poor design. Until Ghost addresses this with a real update to the CLI tool, this workaround is your only option.

That's it.  
We hope this has been helpful!