Authenticator Apps

Authenticator apps are mobile or desktop applications that generate time-based one-time passwords (TOTP) for multi-factor authentication. The apps provide a second layer of security in addition to a password, helping prevent unauthorized access to an account. They generate a unique code that changes every 30 seconds, which must be entered along with the password to log into an account. Examples of popular authenticator apps include Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, and Authy.

What if I lose my phone with Google Authenticator on it?

February 23, 2023August 8, 2022 by Thomas Wzorek

Laptop on the desk with Google Account Recovery option on the screen

Ok, so your phone was lost or stolen, and you had a Google Authenticator on it. It happened to me, so I am pretty familiar with the process. I had enough when I lost my phone with Google Authenticator on it. Then I discovered 1Password Password Manager, an excellent alternative to the Google Authenticator if you are currently searching for a good Password Manager. By the way, did you know that the 1Password has an Authenticator application built into it …

Export Google Authenticator to Authy

February 23, 2023June 1, 2022 by Thomas Wzorek

If you have ever tried to export Google Authenticator to Authy, it may not surprise you that the QR codes generated by the Google Authenticator app when transferring accounts are not compatible with Authy. I have recently decided to test if exporting Google Authenticator to other 2FA applications is as simple as I thought. Unfortunately, the results were not what I was expecting. Most of the application, including Authy, has failed to scan the QR code generated by the Google …

Export Google Authenticator to 1Password

February 23, 2023May 23, 2022 by Thomas Wzorek

If you are familiar with 1Password, you probably know that the 1Password can generate 2FA TOTP codes used to protect your online accounts. You may also know that you can add 2FA codes to 1Password by either scanning the QR code displayed on the page or an image or manually typing the Secret Key. However, many people, including myself, kept using the Google Authenticator app to generate the Two-Factor Authentication TOTP codes either due to the lack of other options …

Extract Secret Keys from Google Authenticator QR Code

February 23, 2023May 22, 2022 by Thomas Wzorek

Extract Secret Keys from the Google Authenticator QR Codes.

If you are reading this article, I’m sure you are aware that the QR codes generated by the Google Authenticator app when transferring accounts are unreadable by other similar applications capable of generating the TOTP codes. For example, applications like Authy, Microsoft Authenticator, LastPass, or 1Password, to name a few, will return an error message when attempting to scan the QR code. The whole idea of extracting Secret Keys from Google Authenticator came about when I wanted to export my …

Can I use Google Authenticator on Multiple Devices?

February 23, 2023April 1, 2022 by Thomas Wzorek

White Smartphone and a tablet on the desk

Since May 7, 2020, you can use Google Authenticator on multiple devices without the need to scan the QR codes individually with your new phone during the initial setup of Two-Step Verification on your account. Google has introduced the portability of Google Authenticator 2SV codes across Android devices, allowing you to have Google Authenticator on two or more Android devices. This long-awaited feature simplifies the process of transferring Google Authenticator to the new phone. There is no longer a need …

Backup Google Authenticator before Factory Reset

February 23, 2023March 20, 2022 by Thomas Wzorek

Days where only contact details needed to be saved before making a factory reset of your phone are long gone. Today, the device in your pocket is a fully-fledged computer, and you should be prepared to make a backup of your device from time to time. Unfortunately, although you can easily back up all your pictures, videos, and other data either in the cloud or locally on your computer drive, that’s not the case with the Google Authenticator. I will …

Can I use Microsoft Authenticator on Multiple Devices?

February 23, 2023September 17, 2021 by Thomas Wzorek

Although possible, using Microsoft Authenticator on multiple devices registered under the same Microsoft account may lead to complete data loss by unintentionally overriding your cloud backup using one of the devices. Having two or more devices with the Microsoft Authenticator app on them sounds like a convenient way to share the 2FA codes with your partner. Although the idea sounds great, we must first understand our options when planning to use the Microsoft Authenticator app on multiple devices. We must …

Is Authy better than Google Authenticator?

February 23, 2023September 3, 2021 by Thomas Wzorek

Whether you chose Authy or Google Authenticator to generate your 2FA codes is entirely up to you. The important thing is that you have secured your accounts with 2FA and not only passwords. The difference between Authy and Google Authenticator lies in the number of features offered by each app. If you like minimalism, use Google Authenticator, but if you like multi-device support, full Backup of your 2FA codes, or three authentication types, use Authy. Authy offers modern design, optional …

Restore Microsoft Authenticator on a New Phone

February 23, 2023August 22, 2021 by Thomas Wzorek

Restore Microsoft Authenticator app on a new phone.

I had to recently transfer the Microsoft Authenticator to a new phone after damaging my old device. Luckily for me, the process is straightforward, and if you have a Microsoft account and Cloud or iCloud Backup enabled, it should take you no longer than a few minutes to complete. Although the process of transferring the Microsoft Authenticator app to a new phone seems easy, you may encounter a few problems along the way. The first thing to remember is to …

Transfer Google Authenticator 2FA codes to New Phone

February 23, 2023August 2, 2021 by Thomas Wzorek

Transfer Google Authenticator app to a new phone.

Until not a long time ago, transferring your Google Authenticator 2FA codes to a new phone was a challenge. It required either visiting each account and rescanning the QR codes with your new phone or rooting your device, risking losing the warranty. The option to transfer Google Authenticator codes to a new phone was a highly anticipated update, and it is not hard to see why. It becomes common to have 20, 30, or even more accounts in the Google …