How to transfer Google Authenticator 2FA to a new compute

 How to transfer Google Authenticator 2FA to a new computer

      Transferring Google Authenticator will make recovering passwords much easier on a new phone

      The problem is that we don't always use Android or have access to the team system that we leave

      But there are different solutions when we don't have the original equipment or when we move to iPhone

  Two-factor authentication is one of the best and easiest ways to keep your account secure online.  So, if you are looking for a secure migration to your new phone, you will probably want to use this technique and rest easy.  Learning how to transfer Google Authenticator 2FA to that device you just activated will be a tutorial that will interest you.  You can learn about the different solutions in the following lines.

  The first thing would be to talk a little more about this system, of course, which is very good because it works by issuing an authentication code that arrives on your phone when someone tries to access the account.  Given that it's not you, you simply have to bypass this code, and no one will violate it.

  Using a 2FA app, like Google

  Authenticator or Authy, you can prevent people who don't have this code from accessing your sensitive data by getting your password, something we really appreciate these days.

  The problem, however, would be that since two-factor authentication uses a specific key for your smartphone, if it's broken or lost, you'll need to recover all those passwords in the new device.  This is the reason for this article.

  Can't reinstall the app on the new mobile and continue?  The answer is no.  It will not be safe.

  Google Authenticator 2FA settings

  Although we have said that there are other platforms that work in a similar way, we will stop at the most popular of those out there today that, of course, belong to Google.  We're talking about Google Authenticator 2FA.

  Google Authenticator allows you to create 2FA security by using your phone to scan a QR code generated by the app on a separate device, or by entering a key code it will provide to you.  It may seem simple... until we have to transfer everything to a new smartphone.

  As we explained, because 2FA authentication uses security keys that are specific to each piece of hardware, the primary hurdle is that we can't reinstall Google Authenticator and sign in as usual.

  And although Google has thought about it, and provided us with a function dedicated to transferring information from the Authenticator application, to transfer data from one computer to another, this means that we can access the original device, and with it, the second will be running Android, and not the iPhone  It works on iOS.

  It is precisely at this point that we will focus, detailing what outputs we have at our disposal.

  Google Authenticator 2FA 2 Transfer

  How to transfer Google Authenticator 2FA step by step?

  Between two Android devices, through a QR code

  In fact, if you move from one Android device to another, and you have access to the first, older device, things are easy.  Simply export the accounts with the QR code generated by the Authenticator app, like this:

      Install Google Authenticator on your Android device from this link

      Click Start, then click Scan QR Code

      You will have a grid with several instructions

      Go to the old computer and open Authentication

      Click on the three dots on the top right of the screen and select “Transfer Accounts”

      There you will have the export accounts function, for which you must activate the security method

      Disable the accounts you don't want to export, and when the accounts you want are there, "Next"

      You will see the QR code, the code that you have to read with the authenticator on the new device

      In a few minutes, Google Authenticator 2FA will be available on it

  Obviously, in these cases it takes a few seconds, but what happens in other circumstances?

  Through backup codes

  When you first set up Google Authenticator, you will be provided with a set of security codes.  You may be asked to print or save it, so you should store it in a safe place.  It will save you all these codes when your phone crashes so you shouldn't lose sight of it at all.

  Similarly, you can get these codes back if you follow these steps from your Google account:

      Go to Security, in the left column

      Scroll down to 2-Step Verification

      Then go to Backup Codes and enter Show Codes

      Click Show Codes, to see your Google Account backup codes

      You will see 10 of them, each one usable once, and if you need more, just repeat this procedure

  Via screenshot of the barcode

  Another way to create a backup in case you lose your phone is to take and save a screenshot of the barcode generated for each 2FA-protected app.  Yes, you read it correctly.

  If you misplace your backup codes but have a screenshot of the QR bar code you used to create the app authentication, you can use it whenever you need it again.

  Simply view the screenshot on your computer, install Google Authenticator on your new computer, and use the “+” sign to scan the barcode.  Or do the same with the config key token if you have it.

  Were you able to transfer your Google Authenticator 2FA to a new computer using any of these tricks?