How to Back Up Google Authenticator on Android

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methods

1Exporting to Another Phone or Tablet

2Saving the QR Code

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Article Summary

For years, Google Authenticator users agonized over the lack of backup options in the app. After all, if you lost your phone or tablet, you'd lose access to any sites tied to Authenticator. Thankfully, Authenticator now has an "Export" feature, which allows you to use your keys on another phone or tablet. You can even keep your keys on both devices at once. So, as long as you have a second phone or tablet, backing up Google Authenticator is now easy. But don't worry—if you're limited to one Android, you can generate a QR code that contains your keys, take a photo of it, and save it somewhere safe. This How.com.vn teaches you how to back up your Google Authenticator keys so you never lose access to your favorite 2FA-supporting websites.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Exporting to Another Phone or Tablet

1. 
   1
   Install Google Authenticator on another phone or tablet. As of May 2020, you can easily back up your Google Authenticator keys to another phone or tablet that also runs Google Authenticator. This allows you to keep the same keys on two devices at once, using the second device as a backup. It also makes it very simple to transfer Authenticator to a new phone.
2. 
   2
   Open Google Authenticator on the phone you want to back up. It's the white icon with a gray vault that looks like a "G" inside. You'll see all of your active codes on the screen.
3. 
   3
   Tap the three vertical dots ⋮. It's at the top-right corner. Click "Transfer accounts" from the menu.
4. 
   4
   Tap Export accounts on the menu. A security screen will appear asking for current phone's pin.
5. 
   5
   Verify your identity by entering phone's pin. Now you'll see a list of all keys you've attached to Authenticator.
6. 
   6
   Select the accounts you want to back up. You can do this by tapping the radio button next to each account. If you have more than 10 accounts, you will need to repeat this step after exporting the first 10—Authenticator can only export 10 accounts at a time.
7. 
   7
   Tap Next. It's at the bottom of the screen. This displays a QR code on the screen.
8. 
   8
   Open Google Authenticator on the second phone or tablet and tap Get Started. You'll need to use your second phone or tablet to scan the QR code on your regular Android's screen.
9. 
   9
   Tap Scan a QR code on the second phone or tablet. This opens your phone or tablet's camera screen.
10. 
    10
    Use the second phone or tablet to capture the QR code from your original Android. To do this, just align the QR code in the square at the center of the camera screen. Once the QR code is captured, the selected accounts will be backed up to your second phone or tablet.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Saving the QR Code

1. 
   1
   Open Google Authenticator on your Android. Another (less secure) way to back up your Google Authenticator keys is to take a photo of the QR code that represents your keys. Keep in mind that if someone gets a hold of the image, they can gain access to all of your accounts—you should only do this if you can store the QR code safely—i.e., not in the cloud or on an unsecured device. Save it to a USB drive that nobody has access to, if possible.

   • As of 2021, Google Authenticator no longer allows you to take a screenshot while the app is open—this means that you'll need to use a second camera (such as a digital camera, your computer's webcam, or another phone or tablet) to take the photo of the code when it appears on the Android's screen.
   • If your Android is rooted, you should be able to take a screenshot by overriding the alert when it appears.
2. 
   2
   Tap the three vertical dots ⋮ and select Export accounts. You'll see the three dots at the top-right corner.
3. 
   3
   Verify your identity by entering phone's pin. Now you'll see a list of all keys you've attached to Authenticator.
4. 
   4
   Select the accounts you want to back up. You can select up to 10 accounts at once by tapping the radio button next to each service's name. If you have more than 10 accounts, you will need to repeat this step after exporting the first 10.
5. 
   5
   Tap Next. It's at the bottom of the screen. Now you'll see the QR code.
6. 
   6
   Take a screenshot or capture a clear photo. If you see an error that says you can't take a screenshot, it's because the app has special protections to prevent nefarious apps from capturing your screen while the app is open. If your Android is rooted, you can usually get around this by overriding the error. However, if you aren't using a rooted Android, you'll need to use a camera, computer web cam, or another phone or tablet to capture the photo.

   • If you're using another phone or tablet to take a photo, it may automatically try to open a web browser when you take a photo of the QR code. Try backing away from the code a little bit and then being a bit faster when tapping the shutter button.
7. 
   7
   Save the image somewhere safe. To avoid being hacked, make sure the image is not backed up to Google Photos or saved through any other backups. Save the photo on an encrypted flash drive or other secure device to prevent anyone from accessing the code. You may also consider printing the code out on a sheet of paper and immediately deleting the image.

   • Your QR code contains the information for all of your Authenticator keys. In theory, this code shouldn't change, as it isn't time-based. However, there's no guarantee. You may want to capture another screenshot if you add additional accounts to Authenticator just to be sure.
   • To make sure this works, install Google Authenticator on another phone or tablet and then try to use it to scan the saved photo.
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