Google Authenticator adds option to sync with Google accounts for improved 2FA usability

On April 25th, 2023, Google Authenticator, a mobile application used for two-factor authentication (2FA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA), released an innovative update. The application generates time-based or HMAC-based one-time passwords based on a shared “secret” between the user and the service requiring authentication. The update allows users to store these codes locally or in their Google account, similar to Authy.

Google received feedback from users about the difficulty of dealing with lost or stolen devices that had Google Authenticator installed. Previously, losing the device meant losing access to the one-time codes and being unable to log in to any services with 2FA enabled.

However, the new update addresses this issue by allowing users to store the codes in their Google account.

It’s important to note that registering with the Google account feature is optional. The updated Authenticator app works on Android and iOS devices as usual.