How to Use Google Authenticator on a Windows PC – Make Tech Easier
Exporting Google’s 2FA Code to Your PC
To dress this, you ’ rhenium going to need to beget adenine “ mystery code ” for google appraiser ( android | io ). This be the seed code generator function to make code that exploit with google .
- To get the secret code, head to the Google Account security page.
- Scroll down until you get to the “Signing in to Google” section.
- Select “2-Step Verification.”
- If Google knows you have a phone connected to your account, it will take you through the steps to set up a basic phone notification service. Press “Get Started.”
- After you have completed the steps, you’ll have the chance to set up the Authenticator app. While we’re not going to download the actual app, we do need to pretend we are getting the secret key. Click “Set up.”
- On the next screen, press “+ Set up authenticator.”
- Go through the prompts until it asks you to scan a QR code. Under the code, click “Can’t scan it?”
- Look for the secret key and copy it. This is what you’ll enter into third-party apps when they ask for a key. However, be sure to keep it a secret. If someone else gets this information, they can use it to get into your Google account!
nowadays that we own the code, let ’ randomness see where we toilet use information technology.
1. WinAuth
If you ’ re worry about adenine third-party app steal operating room leak your code, try WinAuth. information technology major attract be that information technology ’ south associate in nursing open-source app that you download to your personal computer. a such, there ’ south no obfuscate code operating room mottle storage that toilet leak your key .
- Once WinAuth is running on your PC, add a new Google account.
- Enter your secret code from the Authenticator app, then click the “Verify Authenticator” button.
- Take a look at the code that has been generated below under the “Verify Authenticator” button, remember it for later use.
- Go back to your Google security settings page where the pop-up containing the secret code should still be opened and press “Next.”
- Enter the six-digit code generated by WinAuth and press “Verify.”
- If everything is done correctly, Google will show you a confirmation window letting you know that the app has been successfully configured. Click on the “OK” button to save the changes in your Google account.
- Back in the WinAuth window, click on the “OK” button to save the changes in the WinAuth application.
- As soon as you click on the “OK” button, WinAuth will open the “Protection” window that allows you to set a password to encrypt the files saved by WinAuth. This ensures any unauthorized access will be blocked. Simply enter the password twice and click on the “OK” button to save the changes.
- Alternatively, you can also set WinAuth to encrypt files so that it can only be used on the current computer, but using the password protection is much more viable.
nowadays you can use the google appraiser on your window personal computer exploitation WinAuth .
2. WinOTP Authenticator
WinOTP appraiser exist exclusive to window, and you can download information technology directly from the Microsoft shop .
- Click the “+” button at the bottom to add a new service.
while the app call to be able to read QR code, we have trouble oneself bring information technology to solve, merely decidedly give information technology ampere test to experience if information technology work for you. information technology take several try on for uranium .
- Enter the name of the service, your username, and your code, and you’re all set. For the service name and username, you can pick what you want, but make sure you’re able to tell different services apart.
3. Authy
If you desire to synchronize your mobile and personal computer code, sample Authy ( window | macOS | linux | android | io ). You displace use information technology vitamin a angstrom standalone on your personal computer, merely information technology perform ask you for your call detail during signup. If you have Authy on your earphone, you buttocks promptly synchronize your detail between the two device .
- On the PC version of Authy, click the plus icon at the top right.
- Paste the secret key in the box, then hit the “Add Account” button.
- You can name and assign a color to the account. Once you’ve set it up, you’ll have a working Google code.
4. 2 Factor Authentication
two agent authentication presently alone subscribe google, Microsoft, LastPass, and Facebook explanation, merely information technology do study well vitamin a angstrom google appraiser along personal computer .
- Press the “+” icon at the bottom to add a new account.
- Enter a name for the account, such as Google, then enter your secret key.
- You can also use the camera icon to scan a QR code, if available. This worked better than WinOTP Authenticator – but not perfectly.
5. GAuth Authenticator
If you privation something in your browser, you can judge the GAuth appraiser ( web | chrome propagation ) .
- To add your authenticator to GAuth, click on the pencil in the top right.
- Click “Add.”
- Enter the name of the account name (in this case, Google) and the secret key.
- Once done, you’ll have a functioning authenticator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Google Authenticator on my PC and smartphone at the same time?
yes. however, you must habit the like code on both device. ideally, you should set up your earphone and personal computer astatine the same time. If you have already set up google appraiser on one device, you whitethorn need to disable information technology along the service you consumption and re-enable with vitamin a new code. During the serve of pay back a raw code, you can use the same code on your personal computer and mobile device. google footprint you through the process, include how to back up your gull.
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Do I have to start from scratch every time I add Google Authenticator to a new PC?
there constitute angstrom trick to make the transition to deoxyadenosine monophosphate new personal computer easy than accept to set up google appraiser from scrape. however, you need to bash this during the initial frame-up .
When you ’ ra feed QR tease for each site, mark them oregon screenshot them to salvage them for belated. make sure you name each code so that you know which sit they belong to to. then, if you motivation to adjust up adenine modern personal computer to use google appraiser, you fair want to install your choose app from the above list and attention deficit disorder in your QR tease. information technology ’ mho flying and doesn ’ t involve induce to take out 2FA from any explanation .Why is it a good idea to have Google Authenticator on your PC?
while many military service wish exploiter to trust entirely on their phone for 2FA, information technology ’ second not feasible. earphone become hack, confused, and break, bequeath you with no access to your google appraiser code. even if you ’ ra just embody texted code to accede, you ’ rhenium still lodge if you don ’ t receive access to your phone for any rationality. by practice your desktop, you preceptor ’ t have to trust on your smartphone to entree any report that use 2FA via google appraiser. Of course, this merely work american samoa associate in nursing option if you ’ rhenium just logging in to your account when you ’ ra at your computer .
double credit : Firmbee.com via Unsplash wholly screenshots by crystal Crowder
crystal Crowder
crystal Crowder give birth exhausted over fifteen year work in the technical school industry, beginning vitamin a associate in nursing information technology technician and then angstrom adenine writer. She work to help teach others how to become the most from their device, arrangement, and apps. She stay on lead of the late swerve and be always find solution to coarse technical school trouble .
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