My 2FA code generator app failed me at the worst possible time

Last Tuesday I was locked out of my work email because my authenticator app on my phone decided to reset itself after an update. I was in a coffee shop trying to send a client contract by noon and couldn't get in for over an hour. Had to call IT and go through a whole verification process just to get a temporary code. Has anyone else had a authenticator app just wipe itself like that, or am I the only unlucky one?

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2 Comments

the_nancy4mo ago

The app wipeout thing happened to me too and it was such a pain. Downloaded Authy after that. You can set it up so everything's backed up with a password. That way when your phone dies or resets you just enter the password and get all your codes back. Totally different experience from the built-in app. Still a hassle but way less stressful than starting from zero. Might be worth looking into if you're tired of that panic feeling.

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shane_perry294mo ago

Oh man, yeah, the "totally different experience from the built-in app" part really hits home. I had that same panic feeling when my old phone bricked and I lost all my codes for like, five different accounts. It was such a nightmare trying to get back into my email and bank and everything. I ended up going with Authy too after that mess, and it's honestly been way more chill. I still get a little nervous when I switch phones, but having that password backup means I don't have to start completely from scratch every single time. It's just one less thing to stress about in an already annoying process.

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