Get verification codes with Google Authenticator - Android (2024)

1. On your Android device, go to your 2-Step Verification settings for your Google Account.
   • You may need to sign in.
2. Tap Set up authenticator.
   • On some devices, tap Get Started.
3. Follow the on-screen steps.

Use Google Authenticator without a Google Account

You can save your codes safely in your Google Account with Google Authenticator. This helps protect you from being locked out of your account when you change devices. However, you may instead choose to use Google Authenticator without these protections.

To use Google Authenticator without a Google Account:

• When you first open the app, tap Use without an account.
• If you already saved codes to your Google Account, at the top right corner of the home screen, tap your profile picture, then tap Use Authenticator without an account.
  • This action will remove codes from all of your Google Accounts and store them on your device. Codes will not be available on your other devices.

When you sign in to your Google Account within Google Authenticator on a new device, your codes are automatically synced to this device.

If you use Google Authenticator without a Google Account, you can still manually transfer your codes to another device.

To manually transfer Authenticator codes to a new device, you need:

• Your old device with Google Authenticator codes
• The latest version of the Google Authenticator app installed on your old device
• Your new device

Steps to manually transfer Authenticator codes to a new device:

1. On your new device, install the Google Authenticator app.
2. In the Google Authenticator app, tap Get Started.
3. Sign in to your Google Account.
4. On your old device, create a QR code:
   • In the Authenticator app, tap Menu Transfer accounts Export accounts.
     • You'll be asked to unlock your device.
   • Select the accounts you want to transfer to your new device.
   • Tap Next.
     • If you transfer more than one account, your old device may create more than one QR code.
5. On your new device, tap Scan QR code:
   • In the Authenticator app, tap Menu Transfer accounts Import accounts.
   • Scan the QR code created on the old device.

After you scan your QR code, you’ll get confirmation that your Authenticator codes have been transferred.

Use Authenticator with multiple Google Accounts

Authenticator can sync codes for multiple Google Accounts and display them from the same mobile device.

To set up Authenticator with multiple Google Accounts:

1. Set up Google Authenticator for your Google Account.
2. At the top right corner of the home screen, tap your profile picture or initials.
3. Tap Add another account.
4. Select the account you want to add, or sign in to a new Google Account.
5. When asked to start saving codes to the Google Account, tap Allow.

Edit your Google Authenticator codes

To edit your Authenticator code on Android, swipe left on any code to show the edit option. You can update the username for the code or change the associated Google Account where that code is saved.

Organize your Google Authenticator codes

To organize your Authenticator codes, touch and hold any code, then drag to reorder to a desired location.

You can also use the search bar to find the code you need. To search through your Google Authenticator codes, enter any text matching the username to find the code.

Delete your Google Authenticator codes

To delete an Authenticator code on Android, swipe right on any code to show the delete option.

You’ll be asked to confirm deletion. If you’ve synced your Authenticator codes to your Google Account, they’ll also be deleted from all devices where your codes are synced.

If you sync your Authenticator codes to your Google Account and want to delete all of your codes from your Google Account, you can delete the Google Authenticator service.

When you delete the Google Authenticator service:

• Your Authenticator codes are deleted from your Google Account.
• Your Authenticator codes will not be available on any of your devices.
• Your entire Google Account won’t be deleted.

If you delete your entire Google Account, your Google Authenticator codes will also be deleted. Learn how to delete your Google Account.

Turn on Privacy Screen

For additional protection, you can turn on Privacy Screen in Google Authenticator. This requires a verification from your device, like a PIN, pattern or biometric prompt, before the app can be used.

To turn on Privacy Screen:

1. In the Authenticator app, tap Menu Settings Privacy Screen.
2. Turn on Privacy Screen.
3. Complete the verification.

Common questions & issues

These are some proactive steps that you can take to ensure that only you have access to your Google Authenticator codes:

• Sync your Authenticator codes to your Google Account.
• Turn on Privacy Screen.
• If you use Google Authenticator with your Google Account, enroll in additional forms of 2-Step Verification to make sure you do not lock yourself out. Learn more about enrolling in 2-Step Verification.
• Consider enrolling in passkeys for your Google Account. Learn more about passkeys.

If you can’t find your codes, you may have been signed out of your Google Account. Click on the profile icon at the top right to confirm you are signed in.

If you’re locked out of your Google Account, follow the steps to recover your account. Learn more about account recovery.