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Preposition after verb

Difference between “log in” and “log into”

Log in is the general action of accessing a system. Log into is used before the name of the system, account, or website.

Quick answer

Log in vs. log into

Use log in when no object follows. Use log into before a website, app, account, or system.

Please log in before the meeting starts.
She logged into her email account.
Users must log into the portal securely.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
log in

Accessing a system generally

Log in is used without a direct object.

You need to log in first.
Employees logged in from home.
2
log into + account/system

Naming the service or platform

Log into introduces the system, app, or account being accessed.

I logged into the company network.
She logs into the banking app every morning.
3
log in to + infinitive

Using to before another verb

Sometimes to belongs to an infinitive, not to the phrasal verb.

You must log in to update your profile.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
log in
Please log in before continuing.
access a system without naming it
log into
He logged into the website.
access a specific system or account
log in to
She logged in to check her messages.
log in followed by an infinitive purpose phrase
log onto
They logged onto the platform.
an alternative form common in some varieties of English

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Leaving out into before a named system

Use into when the object is the account or platform.

✕ She logged in her account. ✓ She logged into her account.

Using into without an object

Log into normally needs a named system after it.

✕ Please log into before paying. ✓ Please log in before paying.

Confusing into with the infinitive to

In log in to update, to introduces another verb.

✓ He logged in to download the file.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Please ___ before accessing the files.
2. She forgot to ___ the payroll system.
3. We logged in ___ our passwords.

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Frequently asked questions

Is log into more formal than log in?

No. The difference is grammatical, not formal.

Can I say login as a verb?

In standard English, login is usually a noun or adjective. The verb form is log in.

Is log onto correct?

Yes. Log onto is a recognised alternative, especially in older technology usage.

label, as, label, with lag behind, in, from, on or by? "land on" or "land in"? languish in, at, on, for or near? last for, from, until, in or through? "latch onto" or "latch on"? laugh at, with, about, in or for? launch in, by, on, at or into? "lay on" or "lay in"? lead to, by, up, in or from? "leak to" or "leak from"? lean on, towards, against, toward or to?

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