One of the main downsides of using Google Authenticator was that, until recently, it was not possible to automatically synchronize the token generation between devices. It was possible to manually export and import accounts in the app, but if your phone was lost or stolen, users could temporarily lose access to accounts.

Synchronize 2FA codes between phones on Google Authenticator

The new automatic syncing relies on the Google Account associated with the device but is optional in case you don’t want to have your security codes synced on Google’s servers—especially since Google doesn’t enforce another type of confirmation before syncing as Authy does. Having said that here is how you start syncing 2FA tokens using Google Authenticator:

  1. Update or install Google Authenticator (Android | iOS).
  2. On the “Welcome” screen, select the Google account used to synchronize 2FAs. 
Google Authenticator
Syncing authentication codes is as simple as choosing a Google account. / © NextPit Image source: NextPit

If you skipped the account selection during the first run, activating syncing is as simple as switching an account on any other Google app:

  1. Tap on the profile logo in the top right corner.
  2. Select the Google Account to synchronize 2FA.
Google Authenticator
You can use the same steps above to switch between Google accounts to sync 2FA codes. / © NextPit Image source: NextPit

In both cases, the green cloud icon in the top right corner indicates when the 2FA codes are synced with the Google Account. Next time you open Google Authenticator on a new phone, simply select the same Google account to have the 2FA generators on the new device.

How to stop syncing 2FA online on Google Authenticator

If you want to stop syncing code generation in the Google Authenticator, the steps are similar:

  1. Tap on the profile picture in the top right corner.
  2. Select Use without an account.
  3. Confirm the action by tapping on the Continue button.

Tech companies are slowly starting to implement Passkeys to replace passwords and 2FAs, but two-factor authentication is not going away anytime soon apparently, with even fewer services supporting the new security standard.

What about you? How do you use 2FA? Do you trust syncing security codes online? Share your tips on online security in the comments below!

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