Using backup passwords
When Two-factor authentication is enabled, you must enter a one-time password generated by a mobile app when you log in to your account.
To get backup codes, you need to go to the Account security tab in your card:
You can save the backup codes to a file or print them out. If you believe that the privacy of these codes has been compromised, or if you run out of codes, you can generate new ones.
A real-life story that shows the benefits of backup passwords
It all happened quite unexpectedly.
My four-year-old son took my smartphone to play, which had the Google Authenticator app installed. Usually, he only installs apps on the phone, but this time, he deleted something. And that "something" was Google Authenticator.
I only realized what had happened when I tried to log in to Planfix. Of course, I didn't have a one-time password generated by the mobile app, and a simple reinstallation of Google Authenticator didn't solve the problem.
If I had saved backup codes, I could have logged into Planfix and registered a new copy of Google Authenticator. Unfortunately, the codes were not reserved prior. Luckily, I am a Planfix developer and solved my problem.
What would you do in a situation like this?
Summary: If you plan to use two-factor authentication - be sure to save backup passwords in a safe place.
Important
- If, for any reason, your phone with the Google Authenticator mobile app and the backup passwords is unavailable, you must contact your account administrator. They can disable two-factor authentication for your account, and you will be able to log in with just your username and password.