Set up & Sync Google Authenticator 2FA Codes on Multiple Devices

Security holds utmost importance in the contemporary digital landscape, and two-factor authentication (2FA) also called two-step verification serves as a vital instrument in securing online accounts.

A prominent 2FA tool that creates one-time codes needed in addition to a password to log in to a specific service is Google Authenticator. You must sync your 2FA codes if you wish to utilize Google Authenticator on all of your devices.

How to Set up New App Feature to Sync your Google Authenticator 2FA Codes on Multiple Phones & Computers

We’ll demonstrate how to sync Google Authenticator 2FA security authentication codes across multiple devices including several mobile phones, tablets and computers in this blog article.

Step 1: Download the Google Authenticator App on the New Device

Downloading the Google Authenticator app from the app store on your new smartphone is the first step towards synchronizing Google Authenticator 2FA codes on various devices. The new feature is only supported on the latest version of Google Authenticator app.

Step 2: Export Accounts from the Old Device

You must export accounts from the previous device in order to sync your 2FA codes on the new one. Take these actions:

1. On your old device, launch the Google Authenticator app.
2. Choose the three dots in the app’s upper right corner.
3. After choosing “Export Accounts,” click “Continue.”
4. Use touchID on your device to authenticate.
5. Choose all of the websites for which you are creating keys, then click “Export.”

Step 3: Scan QR Code on the New Device

You can sync your 2FA codes on your new device by scanning the QR code displayed on your previous device after exporting accounts from your old one. Take these actions:

1. Launch the Google Authenticator app on your replacement device.
2. Click “Scan QR Code.” 2.
3. Scan the QR code that appears on your outdated gadget.

This will transfer all of your old device’s accounts to your new device.

Step 4: Use the “Change Phone” Option

Employ the “Change Phone” feature on the Google Authenticator page to move Google Authenticator to another phone or several phones. Take these actions:

1. Start by visiting the Google Authenticator page.
2. Select “Change Phone” from the menu.
3. To transfer Google Authenticator to your new phone, follow the instructions.

Step 5: Sync the Time on Your Android Device

The instructions below should help you synchronize the time on your Android device.

1. Start the Google Authenticator application.
2. Choose “More.”
3. Make the choice for “Time correction for codes.”
4. Click “Sync now.”

Step 6: Use Cloud Synchronization

With Google Authenticator, 2FA codes can now be cloud-synchronized for use across many devices. Users can sync their two-factor codes between their Google accounts by backing them up first.

Be mindful that the cloud synchronization function might disclose highly confidential information since the data lacks end-to-end encryption. Authy and 1Password are popular choices if you’d rather use a different 2FA app that enables cross-device syncing.

Takeaways

It’s worth noting that syncing Google Authenticator 2FA codes across multiple devices is a straightforward process, achieved by exporting accounts from the old device and scanning the QR code on the new device, or by using the “Change Phone” option. Users can now sync 2FA codes across various devices via cloud synchronization. However, before activating cloud synchronization, carefully assess its potential benefits and drawbacks.