Google Authenticator Now Supports Device Synchronization

APPS – On Monday (24), Google announced that its Google Authenticator app now allows device synchronization. This means users can link their two-factor authentication temporary codes to their accounts, rather than storing them solely on their device.

Google Authenticator makes account recovery easier in case of device loss or change by synchronizing across different devices. This image was generated by an artificial intelligence for illustration purposes. © Nikolas1007 / Midjourney

Tech

Published on April 26, 2023 – 11:37 GMT +02:00

This update provides a significant solution for those who have lost their phone with Google Authenticator installed. Previously, it was necessary to find the recovery code or contact the support of each service to try to regain access to the accounts, which was not always guaranteed.

Cloud-based Synchronization

By synchronizing with the cloud, temporary codes are no longer stored only on the device but are also linked to the Google account. This allows access to the codes from another device at any time, as long as the user can access their profile.

Authenticator synchronization is automatic: simply update the app and have a registered Google account for the temporary code generation entries to be saved on Google’s servers.

Icon Change and a Future without Passwords

In addition to cloud backup, Google Authenticator will also receive a new icon, changing from a padlock design to an asterisk with the company’s color palette.

Created in 2010, Google Authenticator was designed as a convenient tool to support two-factor authentication. Google is one of the main proponents of a future without passwords, and authentication is one of the pillars of this new reality. Access keys, a possible alternative to traditional secret sequences, use a device linked to the account (usually the phone) to authenticate access, thus eliminating the use of traditional credentials.

# Tags: Apps