Google Authenticator Application Missing From Phone, What to Do?

Google Authenticator is one of the services provided by Google (photo: doc. Pixabay)

YOGYAKARTA – Google Authenticator is one of the services provided by Google to store additional verification codes known as two-factor authentication (2FA). This application can be the right choice for storing lots of passwords. Apart from being more efficient, storing passwords in Google Authenticator is safer.

However, what happens if Google Authenticator is lost or deleted? If this happens, of course the user will feel confused. The reason is, he cannot access any services that are activated through this application.

As experienced by the Kabul Widodo account. Through Google's support page, he complained that he could not log into his Instagram, Facebook and Steam accounts after the Google Authenticator application on his cellphone was lost due to a broken device.

"Please help, I use the Google Authenticator application on Instagram, Facebook, Steam, etc. I can't access all of them because my Google Authenticator application is on my old broken device," wrote Kabul Widodo on the Google support page, quoted Friday, March 3, 2023.

If the Google Authenticator App Is Lost, What to Do?

In response to this, a community member who often helps Google users named Aveline, explained several ways to deal with lost or deleted Google Authenticators on cellphones.

According to Aveline, the missing Google Authenticator problem can be solved by doing the following:

1. Disable two-step verification via computer

The steps to deactivate two-step verification via a computer or laptop device are:

• Go to your Google Account.
• Under "Security," select 2-Step Verification. You may need to log in.
• Select Deactivate.
• A pop-up window will appear to confirm that you want to disable 2-Step Verification. Select Deactivate.

2. Get code on new phone

To get Google Authenticator codes on your new phone, you need to do:

• Install the Google Authenticator app
• Tap Get Started
• At the bottom, tap Import existing accounts?
• On your old phone, generate a QR code.
• On your new phone, tap Scan QR code.
• After you scan your QR code, you will get confirmation that your Google Authenticator account has been transferred.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Google Authenticator

As mentioned above, Google Authenticator is a two-factor authentication (2FA) application that can be used to keep your online account secure.

Quoted from Trust Radius, here are some of the advantages of the Google Authenticator application:

1. Easy to operate

The most obvious advantage of Google Authenticator is that it is very easy to use.

This application has an intuitive interface design and the setup process is easy. Users simply go and add their accounts to use Google Authenticator.

2. Uncomplicated authentication

Besides being easy to use, the authentication process on Google Authenticator is also not complicated.

For data security, this application successfully provides an uncomplicated process. Users simply enter the key they have provided on their device.

Sometimes, the answers 'Yes' and 'No' are enough for the verification process.

3. Practical and fast

Another plus, Google Authenticator is classified as a fast application. You won't notice any delays between the setup process and getting 2FA confirmation.

Apart from that, Google Authenticator users will also get an instant notification when asked to authenticate their account.

Thus information about Google Authenticator. To get other interesting news, read on VOI.ID.