How To Set Up Google Authenticator For Gmail

Setting upwardly Google Authenticator on your phone requires simply a few steps and virtually 5 minutes. It has become the standard style to use ii-gene authentication (2FA) to secure your online accounts, and nosotros're going to walk step-by-step through the setup process.

How to Set up Google Authenticator app on your phone

In this Google Authenticator setup tutorial, you accept the selection of either watching the video and following along…

…or scrolling through the written instructions step by step.

In ten minutes or less, y'all will install and be properly using Google Authenticator on your mobile device.

Google Authenticator Setup Tutorial (Video)

The following video on the All Things Secured YouTube channel is part of our Tech Tips Tuesday segment where we embrace of import changes you should commencement making in your online security.

Give information technology a quick watch:

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How to Install & Use Google Authenticator

Time needed:10 minutes.

In club to use Google Authenticator as a form of two-factor authentication, accept note of the following steps.

Download the Google Authenticator App
The Google Authenticator app is available on both the iOS App Store likewise as the Google Play shop. Information technology'south free to download and use, so in that location's no need to pay whatsoever subscription fee. I recommend yous download the app on your telephone instead of a tablet, since y'all'll demand to accept the device e'er with y'all when a code is required.
Locate 2-Gene Authentication Settings
Inside the security settings of many online accounts, y'all'll detect an option for 2-factor authentication (2FA). Most major social platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), email providers and investment accounts volition offer 2FA, merely not all of them practice. In the case here, you lot'll see the 2-Factor Hallmark settings from within Facebook.
Scan the QR Code or Enter Lawmaking Manually

When you ready up Google Authenticator for 2-factor authentication, the account security settings will either display a QR code or a 32-digit code (or both).

Click the "+" button on the height right corner of the Google Authenticator app and choose "Scan barcode". If y'all only accept one device, you can manually set your 2FA codes with the code.
Confirm 2FA Code
Later the QR lawmaking has been scanned or the 32-digit lawmaking entered, you lot'll meet the new account prove up on the home screen of the Google Authenticator app. In the account settings where you're attempting to set up 2-factor authentication, click "Next" or "Continue" where you'll usually exist asked to confirm the code has been set up up correctly.
Employ the Google Authenticator 6-digit code to Sign In
At this bespeak, your two-factor authentication has been configured and the app has been set up properly. Depending on your settings, you may be required to enter this six-digit lawmaking every time you lot log in, every time you ready a new device or even just once every ready period of days/weeks.

Pro Tips for Using 2FA Authenticator Apps

While the app itself is very uncomplicated, at that place are a few pro tips I've learned from using the app for the past couple of years.

App Security: The Google Authenticator app does not require a password or biometric information (Confront ID, Fingerprint, etc.) to open. This ways that the app's security is dependent on how well you lot secure your phone. Make sure you have at least a half-dozen-digit code to unlock your telephone.
Backup Codes are Important: Scanning the QR code is by far the virtually user-friendly mode to ready Google Authenticator. However, information technology'southward important that you keep the transmission code in an extremely safety identify in the event that your phone gets lost or stolen. These backup codes could relieve you a ton of headache in the future!
Use Multiple 2FA Options: For most online accounts, you're not restricted to only ane class of 2-factor authentication. For example, you could set up Facebook with both the Google Authenticator as well as with a 2FA security key. Either could be used to verify your account and act every bit a backup for each other. I use and recommend is Yubikey.
Tap to Re-create the Code: Usually, half dozen digits is pretty easy to remember, but not always. If you're logging on to an business relationship from your phone and it requires you to open the authenticator app for a lawmaking, simply tap the appropriate code and it volition exist copied to your clipboard. At present you no longer accept to remember it!

If you take any other tips to add together hither, I encourage you to share them in the annotate section below!

Google Authenticator Ofttimes Asked Questions

There are quite a few questions that I get from people most using this app for ii-factor authentication. Let's answer the most common ones here.

What is the "Google Authenticator Primal"?

The central for Google Authenticator is the QR lawmaking or the 32-digit lawmaking provided in the ii-factor authentication settings of the online business relationship you are trying to secure. This fundamental can either be scanned or manually entered into the Authenticator app.

Tin can I have Google Authenticator on multiple devices?

Yes, yous can…although for security reasons this is by and large not recommended. Just use the same QR code or manual lawmaking provided by your online account to set up both devices at the same time and cheque to make sure that they provide the same 6-digit code for 2FA verification.

How exercise I transfer Google Authenticator to a new phone?

Considering Google Authenticator does not sync data with the deject, moving Google Authenticator to a new device requires moving each login individually over to the new device. Make sure you lot still have your onetime device handy while making this switch, or at least have the fill-in codes that were provided when you first setup Google Authenticator.

Is Google Authenticator Safe?

For the most role, yes. Using an authenticator app is ameliorate than using SMS text codes for 2-factor authentication, but not quite equally secure as using concrete 2FA keys. There have been reports that Android malware can steal these onetime passcodes (OTP), just this is extremely rare.

Tin can I Drift my Google Authenticator Codes to a new Phone?

Yes! It is possible to migrate your codes to a new phone, merely it commonly requires access to your quondam phone with the Google Authenticator app. You can follow this tutorial to transfer your Google Authenticator codes to see how it's done.

Next Steps in Online Security

Congrats on setting up 2-factor authentication on your mobile device!

This is the first of many steps that I recommend you accept to start taking control of your online security and privacy. I even have a helpful checklist you tin download that volition walk you through the most important changes you need to make.

And then what'due south next? Here are a few things to consider:

Get Better Passwords: Not every online login allows for 2-gene authentication, and so creating stronger passwords is incredibly important! You can cheque your current password strength using our password checker tool or you lot can browse our list of the best countersign managing director apps.
Update Your Privacy Settings: You may not realize all the information you're giving away for free to anybody who is willing to dig a bit! One of the best things you tin can do is change the privacy settings on your Facebook account to make certain you're only sharing your information with the people you lot want to see it.
Starting time Using a 2FA Key: Near experts concur that the most secure form of 2-factor authentication is using a concrete primal. To learn more than almost this, cheque out our 2FA security key setup tutorial.
Monitor Your Identity: Did you know that you can download a gratuitous re-create of your credit report once per yr? And since there are iii credit bureaus, you can exercise this at least one time every 4 months. Make certain in that location isn't anything unusual. And if yous know that your data has been exposed, you should get a credit monitoring service similar IdentityForce. Think of it like an home alarm system for your identity.