Google Authenticator

Google LLC

About this app

Google Authenticator adds an extra layer of security to your online accounts by adding a second step of verification when you sign in. This means that in addition to your password, you'll also need to enter a code that is generated by the Google Authenticator app on your phone. The verification code can be generated by the Google Authenticator app on your phone, even if you don't have a network or cellular connection.
* Sync your Authenticator codes to your Google Account and across your devices. This way, you can always access them even if you lose your phone.
* Set up your Authenticator accounts automatically with a QR code. This is quick and easy, and it helps to ensure that your codes are set up correctly.
* Support for multiple accounts. You can use the Authenticator app to manage multiple accounts, so you don't have to switch between apps every time you need to sign in.
* Support for time-based and counter-based code generation. You can choose the type of code generation that best suits your needs.
* Transfer accounts between devices with a QR code. This is a convenient way to move your accounts to a new device.
* To use Google Authenticator with Google, you need to enable 2-Step Verification on your Google Account. To get started visit http://www.google.com/2step Permission notice: Camera: Needed to add accounts using QR codes

Ratings and reviews

The authentication works, but the user interface clearly had zero thought put into it whatsoever. Even the very most basic features like the ability to sort the sites for which you are storing authentication information are missing. And better still, even if you manually sort them in alphabetical order, if you switch to a different phone your sort order is forgotten and has to be done all over again. Truly awful and one of these days I'll get around to replacing it even if that's a huge job.

The knock against this app seems to be the lack of a backup option, and no master password for locking the app. Both are easy to overcome. Put the app in the secure folder, which requires a password. For backup, you can export the codes to an old phone or tablet. You can sync manually with the export/import option should any changes arise. Tap and hold copies a code to the clipboard, and you can also rearrange entries by holding and moving, up or down. This is a perfectly good app!

I'm an IT professional and I understand the security implications of backing up the seeds in the cloud (though Google does just that anyway with your passwords if you want). Anyway, what users want is a way to EXPORT THE SEEDS so they can be imported into another device. Still doesn't solve the "lost/stolen phone" problem, but much better than nothing.

What’s new

* Cloud syncing: Your Authenticator codes can now be synced to your Google Account and across your devices, so you can always access them even if you lose your phone.
* Privacy Screen: Access to Authenticator can now be protected by your screen lock, PIN or biometric.
* Improved UX and visuals: We've made the app easier to use and more visually appealing.