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Importing from Google Authenticator

Google Authenticator can show all its accounts as a QR code, and Private Authenticator can read that code. Your accounts stay in Google Authenticator as well; importing copies them.

On the phone with Google Authenticator

  1. Open Google Authenticator and tap its menu (the three lines, or your account picture).
  2. Choose Transfer accounts, then Export accounts.
  3. Tick the accounts to move (all of them, usually) and tap Next. Google shows a QR code. With many accounts it shows several, one after another.

In Private Authenticator

From another phone

  1. Tap the logo, choose Import, then Google Authenticator. The camera opens.
  2. Point it at the QR code on the other phone.
  3. Review Import lists the accounts it found, all ticked. Untick any you don't want and tap Import.
  4. Choose how the import should treat accounts already on this phone (see The Three Import Choices) and confirm with Face ID or Touch ID.
  5. If Google showed several QR codes, repeat for each one. Each is imported separately.

On the same phone

The camera can't scan its own screen, so:

  1. In Google Authenticator, take a screenshot of the QR code (side button and volume-up together).
  2. In Private Authenticator, tap the logo, choose Import, then Google Authenticator, then Choose Photo Instead at the bottom of the camera screen, and pick the screenshot.
  3. Continue from step 3 above.
  4. Delete the screenshot afterwards. It contains your setup keys.

[Screenshot: the Review Import screen listing accounts from a Google Authenticator export]

Good to know

  • Imported accounts arrive without tags. Add tags afterwards if you use them; see Tags.
  • Google's format can't carry counter-based (HOTP) accounts or Steam accounts. If your export had any, the review screen says how many were skipped. Steam accounts can be added by hand; see Adding a Steam Account.
  • Other apps that can export in Google's format, such as Aegis and andOTP, are imported exactly the same way. Look for Export or Transfer in their settings and choose the Google Authenticator or QR option.
  • Once you're happy everything works, you can remove the accounts from Google Authenticator, or keep both apps; they make the same codes.

Continue to Importing from Other Apps.