Essential App, But No Cloud Backup

This is one of the most essential apps on my phone. I don’t know why I trust Google with my 2FA codes (I don’t really) but this is a very useful and important app. It is pretty basic as far as apps go, but it works for the intended purpose.They just added the ability to transfer 2FA codes when upgrading to a new phone. They released this feature less than a month after the second wave of new iPhones came out… so less than a month ago I did the transfer manually, turning 2FA off and back on for my new phone across a dozen services. Some were easy to transfer, others were the opposite. It took over an hour. Their timing with this feature is awful, but at least it’s here now I suppose.

No back up for Authenticator

There is no back up for Google authenticator. It may appear that there is one, but there really isn’t. If you lose your original device without first exporting, your Authenticator, you will not be able to access any of those accounts that you have with a two-step verification, uses us authenticator there is no other option. There is no option to access your previous Google authenticator. There’s no other option exported if you’ve deleted or erase the original phone. It is the biggest flaw in the system here every other Authenticator whether it’s Microsoft LastPass even there was random ones have some form of back up that don’t require you to actually export it first. Not google! it may look like there’s an option but there isn’t you must first exported before you do anything with your original device that means erase it anything which doesn’t make much sense because people are not gonna remember to do that. They’re only gonna remember to do some sort of back up option. if you set up on Google has another secondary two step verification either text message or something else but if you made Authenticator your primary two-step verification, you will probably have to do an account recovery to get into that account. If you not exported your Google authenticator previously which includes Google by the way.

Don’t use Google to auth, just don’t.

Why anyone would use a Google app for authenticator anymore is a mystery to me. Google doesn’t really maintain or support apps, they just change them and then you often lose things. Why have an app where you have to be worried about being singed into Google all the time? That’s not something many of us want at baseline. I’m addition you have to worry about transferring accounts and worry about if you forget to handle it right when you get a new device. I regret I ever used Google authenticator on a few accounts only to find out I could no longer do auth on those accounts when Google just changed the whole thing. I had to go to a bunch of trouble to finally to get back into my accounts. I’m so glad my cybersecurity friend got me to convert to using 1Password many years ago. I love it and when it comes to authenticator capability it’s so much easier and makes so much more sense. They make it so easy to add authenticator to a sign in process, and saves the one-time password generator right in the entry in your personal vault along with the sign in for that particular account. This backs up to the cloud and goes with you when go to your new device. They maintain and support the app through the years, you can have it in any device or add it to any browser. No more worrying about being logged into Google and losing your ability to get into your accounts when Google changes their authenticator app.

I Lost Everything

I lost access to my google account I’ve had my entire life after I got a new phone number and had to get a new iCloud account. I didn’t even get a new phone so there’s no “new phone” to get the codes from. In turn I lost access to my google photos account that had over 18,000 photos backed up to it. I lost all of my daughters newborn photos, my wedding photos and countless other memories I will never be able to retrieve. Unless you’re some sort of high level security person you don’t need this app, DO NOT get it. It’s too easy to lose everything. I don’t even remember why I got it because I didn’t need the extra security. I just thought it was a neat feature I guess. Biggest mistake of my life. I’ve also lost access to ALL of my apps and accounts as well. I had to make all new social media accounts and I still can’t get logged back into some apps because I have a new phone number as well. So I’m logged out of my bank app and pharmacy app as well. I’m sick to my stomach. Please just don’t get this app unless you absolutely NEED the extra security. I would give ANYTHING to be able to retrieve the memories and photos I have lost forever.