Google Authenticator update allows importing/exporting accounts

[Pmalek]

I made a quick search and I didn't find any posts mentioning this.

After several years, the Google Authenticator app has had an update that has finally added an option to export and import the 2FA codes to other accounts.
Authy can do that for quite some time but Authy is a paid service (thanks for the hint BitcoinGirl.Club and o_e_l_e_o).

The user can select all or handpick the accounts he wants to export/import. I have also noticed that they have a dark mode now, not sure if it was there before.

Some more info can be found here
https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/6/21249621/google-authenticator-update-transfer-account-between-devices-2fa 

[BitcoinGirl.Club]

This is very good addition for Google Authenticator. Only for this reason I moved from them to Authy.

Authy can do that for quite some time but Authy is a paid service while the Google Authenticator app is free.

I did not know that it was paid. I have been using it from few years I believe and never paid a sat yet 😝

[o_e_l_e_o]

I did not know that it was paid.

It isn't. Authy is free. However, it is also not open source, so it's a poor choice of 2FA app. Google Authenticator, like all things owned by Google, is an even worse choice, though.

There are plenty of good, free, open source, apps out there which have far more functionality and have allowed encrypted exports and back ups for years. Options include andOTP and Aegis on Android, and Authenticator and Tofu on iOS.

[Pmalek]

It isn't. Authy is free.

Really? Which authentication service am I thinking of that is a paid service? I will scratch that part from the OP. 

[nakamura12]

It is because of other authenticator out there that have this feature to move to other devices while google authenticator doesn't have this feature yet until now. I have used google authenticator before until I use Authy because of it. Authy is not paid service as mentioned above post and I have been using it for years.

[bitmover]

Authy is amazing. I made a post about it a few years ago. It is a much better software than GA. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3178131.0

GA is now becoming better, finally.. that's a very good update. But I will stick to Authy. You can even put an image and description for every account you have lol

[UserU]

OH MY GOD, FINALLY!

I don't have to disable and re-enable all 2FAs on a bajillion sites I registered on.

Google finally listens!

/s

[PrimeNumber7]

I did not know that it was paid.

It isn't. Authy is free. However, it is also not open source, so it's a poor choice of 2FA app. Google Authenticator, like all things owned by Google, is an even worse choice, though.

There are plenty of good, free, open source, apps out there which have far more functionality and have allowed encrypted exports and back ups for years. Options include andOTP and Aegis on Android, and Authenticator and Tofu on iOS.

Google authenticator is open source, and I believe you can generate codes based on your private key and the current time if you didn't want to use their app.

Before today, it was always a best practice to backup your authenticator private keys the same way you would backup any other private keys before you start using them. This principle has really not changed.

[BitcoinGirl.Club]

I did not know that it was paid.

It isn't. Authy is free. However, it is also not open source, so it's a poor choice of 2FA app. Google Authenticator, like all things owned by Google, is an even worse choice, though.

There are plenty of good, free, open source, apps out there which have far more functionality and have allowed encrypted exports and back ups for years. Options include andOTP and Aegis on Android, and Authenticator and Tofu on iOS.

Google authenticator is open source, and I believe you can generate codes based on your private key and the current time if you didn't want to use their app.

Before today, it was always a best practice to backup your authenticator private keys the same way you would backup any other private keys before you start using them. This principle has really not changed.

So before they have this backup system one would go through to this github application to extract the authenticator private keys? I am not github friendly guy and I am sure there are a lot of guys are like me. I still have not checked the updated GA yet, not feeling to check it too since I am happy with my Authy desktop version.

[PrimeNumber7]

I did not know that it was paid.

It isn't. Authy is free. However, it is also not open source, so it's a poor choice of 2FA app. Google Authenticator, like all things owned by Google, is an even worse choice, though.

There are plenty of good, free, open source, apps out there which have far more functionality and have allowed encrypted exports and back ups for years. Options include andOTP and Aegis on Android, and Authenticator and Tofu on iOS.

Google authenticator is open source, and I believe you can generate codes based on your private key and the current time if you didn't want to use their app.

Before today, it was always a best practice to backup your authenticator private keys the same way you would backup any other private keys before you start using them. This principle has really not changed.

So before they have this backup system one would go through to this github application to extract the authenticator private keys? I am not github friendly guy and I am sure there are a lot of guys are like me. I still have not checked the updated GA yet, not feeling to check it too since I am happy with my Authy desktop version.

No, before today, if you wanted to backup your google Authenticator keys, you would have to do so when you given the keys when you import them into your phone.

 

[Pmalek]

Will that transfer option work with WinAuth?

Sorry, that is not something I can help you with. I am not sure if there is a way to contact the support and ask them. I know that Google has a help center and community > https://support.google.com/accounts/community?hl=en
Maybe they can guide you in the right direction.