How to Migrate Google Authenticator 2FA Codes (but first, do this...)

Personally, I recommend you move away from Google Authenticator since you're in the process of migrating your 2FA codes, but either way, here's an easy tutorial to help you with what you need.

If you care about your personal security and privacy online, download my free security checklist here:

Here are the Google Authenticator alternatives I recommend:

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Video Timestamps
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0:00 - Introduction
0:34 - 3 Important Concepts
2:22 - How to Transfer Google Authenticator Accounts
4:23 - How to Migrate from Google Authenticator to another 2FA app
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Storing your 2FA codes in a secure place is vital to protecting your online accounts. I'll walk you through a step-by-step process of properly migrating your Google Authenticator 2FA codes to a new phone or to a new authenticator app in a safe and easy way.

In this video, I'll also mention three key concepts for you to note before doing this process.

#2fa #authenticator #infosec

[Derpled]

so if i wanna have google authenticator and authy at the same time i gotta redo my 2fa? if i only use authy atm

[daninumbers]

I was thinking of what if my phone broke due to being quite old and this was one of the problems, the authenticator.
Screenshot says is disabled as it's "protected by drm" so I'd have to do it with a different phone I guess.

[Pinefenario]

Nice videos about online security! Question: Since you have an iPhone why don’t you use Apple’s keychain for both password and 2fa management? I guess you have devices from other vendors like a Windows or linux pc? What are your thoughts on Apple keychain from the perspective of a security expert?

[Neustocks]

Thank you for the info. I found the part where you describe how to enter the same seed code on multiple devices, the most useful. That seed code is the most important part for maintaining app neutrality.

[TimothyLowe]

Good video - Cannot stress how important it is to back these up. If you manage to smash your phone and this is not backed up you are going to have one heck of a time getting back into some of the apps or services!!!

[luisluiscunha]

You do the world a good service. I have to be selective to channels I subscribe to, because there is so much information out there: but I am glad I am subscribed to yours. Thank you.

[NEO-oovh]

If I wanted to export some of my codes to a different device . Would my orignail devices codes be deleted ? Or can we keep them on that phone as well . I’m trying to add my QR codes to have on 2 devices but I set up the one device already

[cyberhunter]

i formatted my phone without exporting codes . is there any way to get the codes back i am not able to log in the sites ? help please

[Fast_Eddie_]

What if someone doesn't have those 3 dots on google authenticator? I have an older version on an old iPhone 5 that isn't in service and it just shows a plus sign and a pen symbol

[Mvishxa]

Hey! Is there a way to retrieve the old data of your google authentication if multiple accounts were linked to it since I reset my phone I lost all of it and can’t get back into my accounts and the respective platforms arnt doing anything

[creativrss]

What if I add a new account on my first device, would I have to export it manually? Or it's gonna automatically sync the 2FA code to the second device?

[jlmoney]

at 3:44 when your scanning code to new device it says. Setup your first account and you say to "scan QR code" but what about the option at the bottom of the google authenticator that says " import existing account" what would be the difference between these two? Thanks for the great video.

[johnnyelramy]

hello its not working to me .every time I scan the old device it says "cannot interpret qr code " and I have an Android device.Do you know how to fix this problem?

[Drizzt_Do_Entreri]

Hello. I have a question. I have used Google Authenticator on my desktop for a while now and I have the 16 digit codes for each application. When I try to install the 2FA on a program on my tablet, I use the 16 digit codes provided from the desktop version Google Authenticator but it gives me different 6 digit pass codes than my desktop. The apps on the tablet will work when I use the 6 digit codes from the desktop authenticator but not the tablet version as they do not match. I can't be at my desktop 24 hours a day and this is real frustrating. Have I done something wrong? Is there a way to to get them both in sync?

[Manticore]

Thanks for the tutorial. Covers a lot of questions that I had about backing up to another phone. Didn't think about using my backup phone when presented with the QR code originally, but your tutorial shows how easily it can be done afterwards. The options on my AndroidOne phone were slightly different, but still able to follow. Worked a treat. Cheers!

[jacenmccready]

so if i did a factory reset on my phone, lost my codes is therre a way to delete 2fa from an account? so that i could potencially re set it up?

[RawGuruRecords]

I need to restore my iPhone, will this QR code export method work for that?

[AB-yenf]

What if the Authenticator app on old device is an older version? Can the older version be updated and then these steps followed? Because the 3 dots with export option doesn’t exist in older google auth version

[merle]

I opened the Google authenticator app on new phone from play Store and exported just one acc by scanning QR code from old device. However I have to go to play Store and find Google authenticator app each time in my new device to get the code I exported. Is this because I only exported one code and not all simultaneously that the Google authenticator app is not on my new device

[mr.boniato]

I added a new account on my iphone app, but it's not syncing with PC... what do I need to do?