Is there a backup to google authenticator? (2FA)

[DroopyDog]

I think a lot of us use the google auth app... what happens if you lose/damage your phone? is there some measure you can take in advance of that to have a back up to it?

Tried searching and I cant find anything, im probably overlooking something

[cornmeal]

Great question, I cant find the answer as well.
I want to get a new phone, but concerned about trying to move the google authenticator to a new phone.

[Optional]

There is no way to recover your Google Authenticator account info.

If you want to be able to do that, switch to Authy (instructions).

Or use a hardware security key https://support.google.com/accounts/...-1521208378456

[Optional]

Great question, I cant find the answer as well.
I want to get a new phone, but concerned about trying to move the google authenticator to a new phone.

You can move it to a new phone as long as you still have the old phone and access to Authentitcator

[Arky]

I think a lot of us use the google auth app... what happens if you lose/damage your phone? is there some measure you can take in advance of that to have a back up to it?

Tried searching and I cant find anything, im probably overlooking something

When you first turn on the Google Authenticator for a website, the website will give you a key in case you lose your phone. Write the key down on paper or screenshot it, print it out and store it somewhere safe. If you then lose your phone, you will enter this key from the new phone. You can rescan the QR code also. The GA app lets you "scan" or "enter key" but you have to have a copy of the QR code or the key that goes with it.

I recently noticed I didn't have a back up QR code/key for Kucoin so I turned off 2FA at the Kucoin website and deleted the Kucoin entry from my phone. I then turned 2FA back on at the Kucoin website, got a new QR code/key (that I backed up) and was back in business. Hope all that makes sense...

[DroopyDog]

Excellent tips guys, thanks

I moved over to Authy, I strongly recommend everyone takes 10 minutes and does this... never know when you may lose your phone... or throw it against a wall after a bad beat

[littlekona]

great thread...wish I knew this as I deleted my betcoin acct 2FA from google app while back and now i get an email saying USA is again for betcoin...Cant access my account and CS says I need to log in to disable 2FA so I can log in WTH...

[Bsims]

When you first turn on the Google Authenticator for a website, the website will give you a key in case you lose your phone. Write the key down on paper or screenshot it, print it out and store it somewhere safe. If you then lose your phone, you will enter this key from the new phone. You can rescan the QR code also. The GA app lets you "scan" or "enter key" but you have to have a copy of the QR code or the key that goes with it.

My phone was destroyed last summer. Fortunately, I had printed the key and was able to use Authenticator on the new phone by entering the key. Ironic that with all this high tech crap, you need to save stuff on paper.

[Arky]

My phone was destroyed last summer. Fortunately, I had printed the key and was able to use Authenticator on the new phone by entering the key. Ironic that with all this high tech crap, you need to save stuff on paper.

Eheh, yep. Banks, wallets and keys all over the place and one still needs to keep stuff under the mattress.....

[icon]

If you want to run an authenticator from your desktop instead of on your phone you could try:

https://winauth.github.io/winauth/

[raiders72001]

When you first turn on the Google Authenticator for a website, the website will give you a key in case you lose your phone. Write the key down on paper or screenshot it, print it out and store it somewhere safe. If you then lose your phone, you will enter this key from the new phone. You can rescan the QR code also. The GA app lets you "scan" or "enter key" but you have to have a copy of the QR code or the key that goes with it.

I recently noticed I didn't have a back up QR code/key for Kucoin so I turned off 2FA at the Kucoin website and deleted the Kucoin entry from my phone. I then turned 2FA back on at the Kucoin website, got a new QR code/key (that I backed up) and was back in business. Hope all that makes sense...

I do the same.