How to Transfer Google Authenticator Account to a New iPhone

Nov. 23, 2020

Thanks to features like Quick Start/On-Device Migration and iCloud backup, setting up anew iPhonehas become a breeze. So, you can transfer apps and data securely from oneiOSdevice to the other. However, if you use theGoogleAuthenticator app to sign in to your Google Accounts, you may probably know that the process to transfer a Google Authenticator account to a new iPhone isn’t that straightforward. It is because the iPhone app does not offer the option to migrate Google Authenticator codes between iOS devices. But bother not, we have got you covered with the quick guide.

Transfer Google Authenticator Codes Between iPhones

So, what do you need to transfer your Google Authenticator codes between iOS devices? Well, you need a computer and the iOS app installed on your iPhone. Besides, make sure to keep the app installed on your old iPhone until you have successfully migrated your Authenticator codes to the new device. With that said, let’s get started with the quick steps!

1.To get going, make sure you haveinstalled the Google Authenticator app(free) on your iOS device if you haven’t already. Also, make sure to set it up beforehand (Go to Google Account -> Security -> 2-Step Verification -> In the “Add more second steps to verify it’s you” section, tap on the Setup option located under “Authenticator app”.

After that, open a browser on your computer and head over toGoogle’s two-step verification webpageon your computer.

2. Now, click onGet Started.

3. Next, enter theGoogle account passwordand hitNext.

4. Now, locate theCHANGE PHONEoption Under the Authenticator app section and click on it.

5. Next up,choose iPhone andclick onNextagainst.

6. Now,open the Authenticator appon your iPhone andhit the “+” buttonat the top right corner of the screen.

7. Next, tap on theScan Barcodeoption in the popup that shows up from the bottom. Then, use your device camera toscan the barcodeon Google’s 2-step verification website.

8. Finally,enter the six-digit passcodeshown in the app into the dialog box of the website.

That’s all there is to it! I hope you have successfully migrated your Google Authenticator codes to the new iOS device. Though it would be better if the iOS app could allow you to transfer codes on its own, you can count on the above-explained steps to work reliably.

Google Authenticator app offers anextra layer of safeguard (2FA)to your Google accounts by letting you sign in securely through the randomly generated six-digit code. Needless to say, it’s more secure than the verification done throughSMScodes. What do you think of Authenticator? Feel free to shoot your feedback in the comments below.

An old school bibliophile who turned a tech nerd out of obsession. When he is not digging into hacks and tracking down stories that are breaking the internet, you may find him reciting poems.