How to Use Google Authenticator? Google Authenticator or what many people usually refer to as Two-factor Authentication is a software-based authenticator by Google that implements a two-step verification service using a Time-Based One-Time Password Algorithm. This is a simple step to secure your email, social media, and most other online accounts.
While two-factor authentication technically means you have two layers of security protecting your account. Usually, one password and the second is usually a one-time password (OTP). So most people who talk about two-factor authentication usually use OTP either by message or Voice Call.
Once you enable this additional layer of security on your account, you will receive an OTP via text message or authenticator app every time you log in to your account. This means if someone knows your password, they won’t be able to log into your account. Because they won’t have access to the one-time passwords they get from Google Authenticator.
How to Use Google Authenticator
Not all sites support two-factor authentication. However, you must use this security feature on every site that supports it. Sure, this adds an extra step when you log into your online account, but remember that it also protects your account.
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If you don’t want to use this everywhere, we recommend that you enable it on all your email accounts. As long as your email isn’t compromised, most of your online accounts will be safe too. Well, here the author provides the steps to use two-factor authentication on Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, and others.
Install the Google Authenticator App
- Download the Google Authenticator app directly from the Google Play Store or App Store.
- Open Google Authenticator on your phone
- At the bottom of the screen, two options appear, “Barcode Scan” and “Manual Entry”, choose one of them.
- If you select “Scan Barcode” then you must first download a QR code scanner from the Google Play Store or App Store to verify the Google Authenticator connection with your account.
- For the “Manual Entry” option, it means that Google will send you a 16-digit code by e-mail. You can enter the code to complete the verification process.
- Then enable “Time Based” to make sure the code you enter is in sync with the Authenticator’s latest passcode generation.
Next, you just have to choose which apps you want to enable two-step verification by using Google Authenticator as long as the app supports it. Like Gmail, Facebook, or Instagram.
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To activate it, all you have to do is enter the Gmail/Facebook/Instagram application on your phone, then look for the Security/Security menu => Two-factor authentication, then activate the Authentication App option. Done, now every time you sign in to an account that has been linked to Google Authenticator, you must enter a six-digit verification code from the Authenticator application.