How to transfer your Google Authenticator account to a new phone (2024)

Using two-factor authentication (2FA) apps ensures your account is safe behind two layers of security. 2FA apps make it difficult for hackers to access your web accounts. Google Authenticator and Authy are two popular options. However, a turn-off to Google's solution is how the codes are stored on your device. They are encrypted using a key that's specific to that phone. You can't access the codes anywhere else.

This isn't a problem unless your phone is stolen or broken, in which case you may be locked out of your online accounts. Google introduced the option to transfer your accounts in 2020, allowing you to import and export authentication codes between devices. But the process was still manual. Google made it easier with the April 2023 update by introducing code synchronization across multiple devices using your Google account.

This article walks you through synchronizing your codes between devices, whether you use an iPhone or an inexpensive Android phone. If you need to use the manual method, we also cover that.

Automatically sync Google Authenticator codes to a new phone

To get started with automatic 2FA syncing across your iOS or Android devices, follow these steps to sign in to your account:

1. Launch the Google Authenticator app on your old device.
2. Tap the avatar icon in the upper-right corner of the screen. A pop-up box asks you to choose an account from a list of accounts registered on your device.
3. Select the appropriate account. The sync feature automatically turns on with a green cloud button next to the avatar.

When syncing is set up on your old device, download the authenticator app on your new iPhone or Android from the App Store, Google Play Store, or Samsung Store and sign in with the same Google account. Your codes automatically appear on the new phone.

The main advantage of this feature is that if you lose your phone or it is damaged, you can retrieve your verification codes on your new phone without a hassle, as long as you signed in previously. Despite the update, the old manual methods of transferring your 2FA codes still work. Let's see them next.

Manually transfer Google Authenticator codes to a new phone

If you want to transfer your Google Authenticator account to another device, follow these steps on your old device:

1. Launch Google Authenticator.
2. Tap the hamburger menu icon in the upper-left corner of the screen to open the side menu.
3. Select Transfer accounts from the options. You're asked to export or import existing accounts.
4. Select Export accounts. You're asked to verify the action with your fingerprint or lock screen password.
5. Enter your password or input your fingerprint. You're asked to select the accounts to export. All the accounts are selected by default. Uncheck those you don't want to move.
6. Tap Next. A barcode displays on your screen to be scanned by your new device.

Then, follow these steps on your new device:

1. Open Google Authenticator.
2. Tap the hamburger icon to open the side menu.
3. Select Transfer accounts.
4. Select Import accounts.
5. Tap Scan QR code in the lower-right corner of the screen. The camera opens.
6. You're asked for permission if this is your first time using the app.

The codes automatically transfer to your new device after the scan is complete. You can now use Authenticator on both phones or delete it from your old device.

Reset the Authenticator app

The previous methods should get your Authenticator app issues sorted. However, say you lost your phone without syncing your codes to your Google account, and you can't transfer the codes to a new phone. When this happens, reset two-step verification on each website where you previously installed it.

This method requires you to be logged in and able to access the platform. For your Google account, you can reset the app from the security settings by deleting it and installing it using the new phone. To do this:

1. Launch your Chrome browser and log in to your Google account on your PC or Mac.
2. Click the avatar icon and select Manage your Google account.
3. Go to the Security tab.
4. Scroll down and click Authenticator.

   

5. Click the bin icon next to it to delete the existing setup.

   

6. Click OK to confirm the deletion.

   

7. Click Set up authenticator to use it on your new phone. A QR code pops up.

   

8. Scan the code with your new device to get started.
9. Click Next after scanning. You're prompted to input a code from the Authenticator app.

   

10. Enter the code from the app and click Verify.

    

If you're asked to enter your 2FA while logging in to your Google account, use one of the ten backup codes to get access. These codes are automatically generated when you set up 2FA for your Google account. They're stored within the account, but you must copy them to an external location before you're locked out of your account without your 2FA app.

Do the same for all services you use with Google Authenticator, be it Facebook, Amazon, Apple, or Dropbox. You may not be able to access apps that require you to input your 2FA while logging in unless you have your old phone.

Transferring your Google Authenticator has never been this easy

Transferring your Google Authenticator to a new phone is more seamless than ever, thanks to the tech giant's introduction of the user-friendly sync feature. If concerns about the transfer process keep you from setting up Google Authenticator 2FA for your apps, you can protect your account without worry. See our guide on setting up two-step verification on Facebook to get started. We also have detailed guides to set up 2FA on Amazon, Discord, and Twitter (now X).