diff --git a/status/js/auth-gate.js b/status/js/auth-gate.js
index b1ddd47..4f1c84e 100644
--- a/status/js/auth-gate.js
+++ b/status/js/auth-gate.js
@@ -189,20 +189,57 @@
 
     const providers = await fetchMethods();
     if (providers.length === 0) {
-      // Either the endpoint isn't reachable OR only TOTP is enabled (which
-      // isEnabled() returns false until set up). Either way, fall back to
-      // the legacy TOTP overlay — existing totp-auth.js handles it.
+      // Either the endpoint isn't reachable OR no provider reports enabled.
+      // Fall back to the legacy TOTP overlay — existing totp-auth.js handles it.
       if (typeof window._showTotpOverlay === 'function') window._showTotpOverlay();
       return;
     }
     if (providers.length === 1 && providers[0].name === 'totp') {
-      // Single TOTP provider → show the original TOTP overlay unchanged
-      if (typeof window._showTotpOverlay === 'function') window._showTotpOverlay();
+      // Single TOTP provider → show the original TOTP overlay unchanged,
+      // but with an "Or sign in with email" link below so the email path
+      // is reachable as the recovery / phone-friendly alternative. Most
+      // users still want their primary method (TOTP) front-and-center.
+      showTotpWithEmailFallback(providers[0]);
       return;
     }
     showProviderSelector(providers);
   }
 
+  function showTotpWithEmailFallback(totpProvider) {
+    const emailEnabled = methodsCache && methodsCache.find(p => p.name === 'email');
+    if (!emailEnabled) {
+      // Truly single-provider path: legacy TOTP overlay, no alt link.
+      if (typeof window._showTotpOverlay === 'function') window._showTotpOverlay();
+      return;
+    }
+    const overlay = document.getElementById('totp-overlay');
+    const card = overlay.querySelector('.totp-card');
+    if (!card) return;
+
+    // Save the original TOTP markup so we can restore on alt-link click off.
+    if (!card.dataset.originalBody) card.dataset.originalBody = card.innerHTML;
+
+    // Add a small "or" link at the bottom of the existing card WITHOUT
+    // touching the TOTP input markup — keeps totp-auth.js's submitTotpCode
+    // binding intact.
+    let alt = card.querySelector('#auth-gate-email-alt');
+    if (!alt) {
+      const div = document.createElement('div');
+      div.id = 'auth-gate-email-alt';
+      div.style.cssText = 'margin-top: 18px; padding-top: 14px; border-top: 1px solid var(--border); font-size: 0.85rem;';
+      div.innerHTML = `<a href="#" id="auth-gate-email-alt-link"
+        style="color: var(--accent); text-decoration: none;">
+        Or sign in with email instead →
+      </a>`;
+      card.appendChild(div);
+      div.querySelector('#auth-gate-email-alt-link').addEventListener('click', e => {
+        e.preventDefault();
+        renderProviderChallenge(emailEnabled);
+      });
+    }
+    overlay.classList.add('show');
+  }
+
   // ---- Trigger points ----
   // 1. SSO redirect from Caddy: ?auth=required
   //    We claim ownership here (set window.__dc_049_handled = true)