Most Android apps automatically sync data, so transferring it to a new device is easy. However, Google Authenticator data is not synced for obvious security reasons.
If you're resetting your phone, upgrading to a new phone, or simply want to copy data to a second device, you'll need to follow these steps to copy your data so you don't lose your passcodes.
Switch to another phone
Google allows you to transfer data to another phone. Open your account's two-step verification page and click the "Edit" button in the "Authenticator App" section.
Select your new phone type and scan the code shown on your new phone. Please note that the Google Authenticator app will no longer work on your old phone.
How to transfer all content
We told you how to transfer the application and save your account with all the settings. But you will receive an empty shell, in which there will be one account - your profile. How to transfer Google Authenticator codes, all content?
It is precisely because of the complexity of the process that experts advise writing down codes or printing digital keys when setting up two-factor authentication for any site. If you haven’t done this yet, you’ll have to disable two-step authentication on each service – your old phone will come in handy here:
- Open all connected resources sequentially;
- In the account settings on the website (each has its own location of parameters), look for the 2FA icon;
- Enter passwords generated on your old smartphone.
Once all sites are disabled, let's start setting up on another phone! Together we learned how to transfer Google Authenticator to another phone - a labor-intensive process, slow, but possible! You will not lose important information and will be able to use the service on any device.
Backup and Restore Google Authenticator Data [Requires Root]
If your Android device is rooted, you can use the Titanium Backup app to back up your Google Authenticator app data. For security reasons, other applications cannot read this data, which is why root access is required.
Find the Authenticator application in the Backup/Restore tab and back up your data. Copy the backup from the TitaniumBackup folder on your device to your computer. You can restore this data later on a new device.
Please note that this method will not work with devices running different versions of the Android operating system, but it is ideal if you need to restore your phone after a reset.
Why do we need two-factor authentication?
Two-factor authentication is one of the best ways to protect your accounts from unauthorized access. To log in, it requires not only your password, but also a special code, in this case generated through the Google Authenticator application.
Although there are many other authentication apps; In addition, this feature may be supported by your password manager, such as 1Password. What solution are you using? Share in the comments or in our chat on Telegram.
In an era when personal data is one of the most valuable resources, two-factor authentication is more of a necessity than an exotic thing with meaning incomprehensible to the average user. Therefore, we recommend setting up two-factor authentication for at least your Apple ID. In this case, you can do without special applications - the confirmation code for entry will be sent either via SMS or to your other trusted device.
Extracting data manually [needs root]
If you have root access to your device, you can extract the data manually, although this will require a little more effort than the previous method.
In order to perform this, adb will need root access. If you have custom ROM, most likely you already have adb with root access. If you have stock firmware installed, you will need an application like adbd Insecure. It can be purchased on Google Play or. Set adbd to unsafe mode using this app.
Note: If you have rooted File Explorer, you can download the database file from /data/data/com.google.android.apps.authenticator2/databases/data to your computer.
Once you have set adb to insecure mode, you can connect your Android device to your computer and download the Google Authenticator database using the adb command:
adb pull /data/data/com.google.android.apps.authenticator2/databases/databases
You can then use the sqlite editor to view and modify the contents of this file. If you are using the sqlite3 command line program, run the following command:
sqlite3 ./databases select * from accounts;
You'll see Google Authenticator keys that you can add to your new device.
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Do you need 2FA for every account?
You want to protect your online accounts, no doubt about it. If you go to great lengths to protect your accounts with a strong and unique password, why not take the extra step and use a 2FA app? All of the above apps are free, relatively easy to use, and the added layer of security can prevent someone from hacking into your email or social media accounts and causing havoc.
Backing up your 2FA codes is very convenient. However, you should trust the 2FA app with your backups. For many users, backing up and trusting a third party with a 2FA code is a complete security no-no. However, for most people, the added functionality of a security backup is ideal. And given that you can encrypt your backups, there's nothing to worry about.
One question remains: is it worth using two-factor authentication via SMS?
Use Authy to make it easier
It's possible to sync your authentication codes across devices—you just can't do it with Google Authenticator. If you want to use all 2FA codes across multiple devices, we recommend using Authy. It works with all sites and services that use Google Authenticator, encrypts the codes with a password you provide, and stores them in the cloud. This makes moving multiple devices much easier, and encrypted cloud sync provides a balance of security and convenience.
With Authy, you don't have to set up two-factor authentication for all your devices every time you switch to a new phone. We recommend switching from Google Authenticator to Authy to make the process of switching to a new phone easier in the future.
RELATED: How to Set Up Authentication for Two-Factor Authentication (And Sync Your Codes Across Devices)
How does Google auth work?
In order to log into the site or use the service, you need to enter your username and password and launch the Authenticator
and enter the generated one-time password in a special field. ... This secret key will be used for all future logins to the site.
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How to Move or Transfer Google Authenticator Codes to a New Phone
Google offers a free two-factor authentication app called Authenticator. The app is available on both Android and iOS smartphones and is completely free, with no ads or in-app purchases. As you know, Google 2FA application is very simple. In fact, they made the interface too simple and forgot to add a way to securely transfer Google Authenticator data and scanned codes to another phone. That is, until recently, there was no way to move or transfer Google Authenticator codes to a new phone.
Transfer Google Authenticator to a new phone
Google recently updated its version of the Authenticator app for Android, adding a way to import and export existing scanned 2FA codes to a new phone. This is a welcome sign because other apps like Microsoft Authenticator and Authy support this feature. They've had this for a long time.
On the other hand, the iOS app for iPhone and iPad still lacks a transfer feature. There is no news from Google when they will hand it over to its Android counterpart. Prior to the update, it became easier to port Authenticator from Android to Android, but the same can't be said for iOS to iOS, or between Android and iOS in either direction.
Here's how it all works.
Also Read: How to Use Android Phone to Verify Google Login on iOS Using 2SV
Transfer Authenticator from Android to Android Phones
Open Authenticator on your new Android phone and you'll be greeted with a help screen explaining how Google Authenticator works. You will then be asked if you want to transfer accounts. If you don't see this screen by default and go to the Home screen, simply tap on the three-dot menu icon to select the Transfer Accounts option.
Click on Import Accounts here if you want to move 2FA codes from your old phone to this phone, and click on Export Accounts here if you want to transfer 2FA codes from your old phone to your new phone. Let's look at both options in turn.
At this point, you will be asked to enter your smartphone's password for security reasons so that no one can export data to their phone without your permission. It's not immediately clear what this screen means because it doesn't say enter your phone password or anything. Just an empty field. I spent a few minutes entering my Google account password instead. You also cannot take screenshots of this screen, again for security reasons.
You should now see a list of all accounts stored in your Authenticator app. Select the ones you want to move to the new phone and click Next. Download and install the Google Authenticator app on your new phone and scan the QR code you see on your old phone at this point. All selected 2FA codes will be transferred from the old phone to the new one after the scan is automatically completed.
On your new phone, you'll go to Settings > Transfer Account > Import Account and won't tap the plus icon to scan the new QR code as you normally would. These two QR code options are not the same.
Also Read: Authy vs Google Authenticator – Which One Is Better?
Understanding the Security Aspect
Unlike some other 2FA apps, Google stores all data locally on your phone in an encrypted format, keeping it secure. This data cannot be read even if your phone is lost, stolen, or hacked. You can and should erase your phone using the Google Find My Device app available on the Play Store.
Because the data is not stored online in the cloud on a remote server, it is never synchronized across two devices at the same time. Although this may be a bit of a hassle for some of you, it is actually much safer. For example, when you scan a 2FA code in Authy on one device, it will automatically appear on another device where you have Authy installed. Although Authy also encrypts data and takes many precautions, the data is still in the cloud and travels through servers.
Moving 2FA codes this way is more tedious and manual in nature, but takes less than a minute and is more secure and reliable.
Also read: How to Login to Google Account without Verification Code
Transfer Authenticator from iOS to iOS, from iOS to Android and vice versa
The Authenticator app will show a short message on a blue background saying “Accounts were recently exported” the next time you launch the app. You can also view a list of all imports and exports in the Recent Activity section. It contains more detailed information such as the number of accounts imported/exported, date and time of activity, and the Google email ID for the Authenticator account. You'll also find a link to reset two-step verification on your Google account if you think it's been compromised.
The iOS version of the Google Authenticator app still lacks an account transfer feature. I hope this happens soon because I myself want to protect myself from future mishaps by storing all 2FA codes on two different devices. The chances of me losing both phones at the same time are pretty low.
Pro tip: Use your old spare smartphone and install the Authenticator app on it to further reduce the chance of losing access to 2FA codes and getting your account banned to zero. Keep it in your office or home just in case.
Right now, you will need to log into each account you have using the ID, password, and 2FA code, and rescan the 2FA codes manually on the new phone. This will require removing 2FA protection from said account after logging in, re-enabling it, and rescanning the QR code from the new phone.
Google hasn't shared any timeline for when they're going to release the new update, so it's anyone's guess.
Also Read: 6 Best 2FA Apps and Key Security Devices for Secure Login Anywhere
Smart hack to backup 2FA codes
Just take a screenshot of the QR code and save it somewhere safe. You can encrypt your data, save it to your personal Microsoft OneDrive, which will encrypt and protect it, or simply print it and save it offline. Either way, you now have a real QR code in your hand and you can scan it anytime with any 2FA app you like. Of course, storing backup codes securely is the traditional way for most people.
Conclusion: Transferring Authenticator to New Phone
The process of transferring Authenticator app from Android to Android is very simple and easy. It will take less than a minute. iPhone and iPad users are out of luck, but I believe there will be a solution soon. You just need to be patient. In the meantime, use your old phone, rescan all the codes, or go to an app like Authy.
Enable 2FA on more than one device at the same time
In an ideal world, 2FA allows you to verify your credentials using a cell phone or other device you carry with you at all times that only you have access to. This makes it very difficult for hackers to spoof the system because (unlike receiving codes via SMS, which is not particularly secure), there is no easy way for bad guys to obtain a second authorization provided through a local existing application. only in your pocket.
Here's what happens behind the scenes. When you add a new site or service to Google Authenticator, it uses a secret key to generate a QR code. This in turn informs your Google Authenticator app how to generate an unlimited number of time-based one-time passwords. Once you scan the QR code and close the browser window, that particular QR code cannot be recovered and the secret key will be stored locally on your phone.
If Google Authenticator could sync across multiple devices, then the secret key or its authentication codes would have to live in the cloud somewhere, making it vulnerable to hacking. This is why Google doesn't allow you to sync your codes across devices. However, there are two ways to support authentication codes on multiple devices at the same time.
First, when you add a site or service to Google Authenticator, you can scan the QR code on multiple devices at the same time. The website that generates the QR code doesn't know (or care) that you scanned it. You can scan it onto as many additional mobile devices as you want, and each copy of Google Authenticator you scan from the same barcode will generate the same six-digit code.
We don't recommend doing it this way. First of all, you spread your authentication codes across multiple devices that could be lost or stolen. But more importantly, since they're not actually in sync, you run the risk of disconnecting the various devices from each other. If you need to disable 2FA for a specific service, for example, and then re-enable it on just one device, you may no longer know which device has the most up-to-date and correct authentication codes. This is a disaster waiting to happen.
How to find out the Instagram two-factor authentication code?
To access backup codes, go to Instagram > Settings > Two-Factor Authentication > Get Backup Codes. Log in to your Combin account. When prompted for a two-factor authentication code, use one of the available codes.
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