Google Authenticator Now Offers Account Syncing to Ease 2FA Management

When I initially installed Google Authenticator on my iPhone to manage two-factor authentication (2FA), I came across a flaw that I hoped I would never have to deal with. If my handset got lost or stolen, the contents of Google Authenticator would also be lost, and setting up everything again would be a huge hassle. Upgrading to a new handset would also mean dealing with the tedious process of moving the Google Authenticator data to the new device. Fortunately, Google has finally resolved this significant issue with Authenticator by adding account syncing functionality to the app.

Moreover, Google Authenticator has a new icon that aligns with the brand’s image. The safe-lock icon that we were used to tapping on Android and iPhone has been replaced by an asterisk symbol in Google’s colors. The update is available on both Android and iPhone, and users can now enjoy the same new icon design and Google account syncing functionality.

In a recent blog post, Google stated that although they are moving towards a future without passwords, authentication codes are still crucial to internet security at present. Therefore, the company has continued to optimize the Google Authenticator app. Over the years, one of the most common complaints from users has been the difficulty of dealing with lost or stolen devices that had Google Authenticator installed. Since the app only stored one-time codes on a single device, users would lose their ability to sign in to any service that they had set up 2FA using Authenticator if the device was lost.

To address this issue, Google has added an optional account syncing feature to the app. This feature ensures that users do not lose their 2FA codes if their device is lost or stolen. The data is saved in the cloud, and users can choose to enable or ignore the feature. If they choose to enable it, they can rest assured that their Authenticator’s 2FA capabilities will not be affected in the event of device loss.

If you suspect that someone might be targeting your Google account to hack your 2FA codes, you may want to consider setting up a new Google account that solely handles 2FA syncing. This account will only be used for authentication purposes and won’t contain any sensitive information.

Google still supports the traditional method of transferring Authenticator data between devices using QR codes. If you don’t want to sync your 2FA information, this is the option you should choose.

Additionally, there are other alternatives to Google Authenticator for managing your 2FA codes. For instance, you can use the built-in 2FA features in iOS or try 1Password or Proton’s future Pass password manager to handle two-factor authentication.

Finally, it’s essential to protect your Google Authenticator app with a password. This means enabling Face ID on the iPhone app to prevent unauthorized access.