- Which Companies House login do you need?
- How to connect WebFiling to GOV.UK One Login
- Find and update company information: what changed in August 2026
- What you need to sign in with GOV.UK One Login
- The shared login trap
- Tidy up while you're in there
- If you still can't get in
- My advice
- Frequently asked questions
Companies House has 2 main logins, and both now run through GOV.UK One Login. Since 13 October 2025 you can't get into WebFiling without connecting your account to GOV.UK One Login, and since late August 2026 GOV.UK One Login is the main sign in for Find and update company information. Each GOV.UK One Login belongs to one person, so shared team logins no longer work.
If you've landed here because the sign in page looks different, that's why. Below is which service you need, how to connect, and the shared-account trap that can lock out small teams and their accountants.
Which Companies House login do you need?
| Service | What it's for | How you sign in now |
|---|---|---|
| WebFiling | Filing company information online, such as accounts, confirmation statements and changes to company details | GOV.UK One Login (connection required since 13 October 2025) |
| Find and update company information (your Companies House account) | Searching the register and filing some information | GOV.UK One Login is the main option; existing users can still use old details for now |
| Software filing | Filing through accounting software | A presenter account with a presenter ID and code |
Searching the register doesn't need a login at all. Companies House says you can search Find and update company information and download company information free.
How to connect WebFiling to GOV.UK One Login
- Go to WebFiling and sign in. You'll be redirected to connect your account with GOV.UK One Login.
- If you have a GOV.UK One Login, sign in with it. If not, you'll be prompted to create one.
- If you also have an unconnected Companies House account for Find and update, you can connect both at the same time.
- Enter each company's authentication code if asked, to confirm you're still authorised to file for it.
You don't need to verify your identity to connect WebFiling. That's a separate requirement for directors and PSCs. Before you start, Companies House suggests making sure the email address on your WebFiling account is current and that you can get into it, and using the same email address for WebFiling and your Companies House account.
Find and update company information: what changed in August 2026
Companies House announced on 20 August 2026 that the sign in screen would change in late August, with GOV.UK One Login as the main option. If you already have an account, you can keep using your existing details for now, further down the page. All new users need a GOV.UK One Login.
Companies House also says that in the future all users will need to move to GOV.UK One Login, with plenty of notice. And it's clear this change is to sign in only: you're not being asked to verify your identity.
What you need to sign in with GOV.UK One Login
GOV.UK One Login uses your email address, a password and multi-factor authentication, either a code from an authenticator app or an SMS. If you'd rather not rely on texts, our guide on how to use Google Authenticator shows how to set up app codes.
The same login gets you into many other government services, and Companies House says that over time GOV.UK One Login will replace all other ways to sign in on GOV.UK, including Government Gateway.
The shared login trap
This is the bit to sort out before it bites. Only one person can connect each WebFiling account to their GOV.UK One Login. Anyone else who shared that account needs their own GOV.UK One Login with a different email address, and they lose access to the information in the shared account.
For Find and update, Companies House's advice is that each GOV.UK One Login must be linked to one individual, with their own email address and phone number. It warns that sharing an account after linking it to GOV.UK One Login can trigger security controls that lock users out.
If your office manager, your bookkeeper and you all use the same company login today, plan who needs access and give each person their own account now.
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Tidy up while you're in there
- Check the Your companies page in WebFiling and remove any companies you no longer file for.
- Update your email address under Change account details if it's out of date.
- Keep each company's authentication code somewhere safe, because you may be asked for it when you connect.
If you still can't get in
If the problem is GOV.UK One Login itself, Companies House points you to the GOV.UK One Login service status page and the GOV.UK One Login team, who handle help, problems and feedback for the login. Companies House posts planned maintenance on its About our services page, so check there before you assume something's wrong with your account.
If you've changed phones and lost your authenticator, sort that through GOV.UK One Login first. Once you're back in, every connected Companies House service works again, because there's only one set of sign in details behind them.
My advice
Do the connection now, on a quiet day, not the week your accounts or confirmation statement are due. Give everyone their own GOV.UK One Login, use an authenticator app rather than SMS, and keep the authentication codes in your password manager. If you're starting a new UK business, create your GOV.UK One Login first and use it from day one, so there's nothing to migrate later.
Frequently asked questions
How do I log in to Companies House WebFiling?
Sign in to WebFiling and you'll be redirected to GOV.UK One Login. Sign in or create a GOV.UK One Login, connect your WebFiling account, and enter each company's authentication code if asked.
Do I need GOV.UK One Login for Companies House?
For WebFiling, yes: you can't access it without connecting to GOV.UK One Login since 13 October 2025. For Find and update company information, new users need GOV.UK One Login and existing users can keep their old details for now.
Can my team share one Companies House login?
No. Only one person can connect each WebFiling account to their GOV.UK One Login, and Companies House warns that sharing an account after linking it can trigger security controls that lock users out.
Do I need to verify my identity to connect WebFiling to GOV.UK One Login?
No. Connecting WebFiling to GOV.UK One Login doesn't need identity verification. Identity verification is a separate legal requirement for directors and people with significant control.
Do I need to log in to search Companies House?
No. You can search the Find and update company information service and download company information free without signing in.
