Hands-on: 'Authenticator' is a new 2FA app for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch (2024)

Hands-on: 'Authenticator' is a new 2FA app for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch (1)

With hacking and phishing attempts online, it’s more important than ever to have extra protection in our accounts. I have always used Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator, but “Authenticator” by 2Stable is a new two-factor authentication app designed for Apple devices.

2Stable is a company located in Andorra, and several features of Authenticator stand out. First and foremost, there’s no need to create an account, and you just have to remember one password. You can also sync and backup with all your devices via iCloud, including the Mac and the Apple Watch.

Authenticator is really simple to use, and it’s possible to import all your data from Google Authenticator. I also never experienced the Apple Universal Clipboard feature working as fast as with this app. One tap on the iPhone, Command + V on Mac, and that’s it.

If you don’t have your iPhone around, you can check your codes on the Apple Watch or in the Mac app. On the Mac, for example, you can scan your screen within the app to quickly add a new account. If, by any chance, you’re having trouble adding your Uber account or email, Authenticator shows the FAQ from the app to help you finish the two-factor authentication.

Hands-on: 'Authenticator' is a new 2FA app for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch (2)

With support for iOS 14 widgets, you can also select some of your accounts for easy access. Authenticator also supports biometric authentication with Touch ID and Face ID, and all data is encrypted even if stored on iCloud.

As for now, the team behind the app is working on U2F support, Safari, Firefox, and Chrome extensions, secure account share, unlock with Apple Watch, and translation/localization in other languages. Even though web extensions are not available, as long as you have at least one Apple device (iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, or Apple Watch) with you, it’s possible to enter the 2FA code. And even if you’re offline, the app still generates secure tokens.

Hands-on: 'Authenticator' is a new 2FA app for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch (3)

One thing I really enjoyed about Authenticator is the ability to manually select your account icon. For example, using Microsoft’s own app, there were some logins without an image. With this one, all my accounts are personalized, and I can even choose different icons for different services.

Authenticator is free to download, but you have to pay a $9.99 yearly subscription to take advantage of the full app. In the free version, the user can only add two accounts without synchronization and backup features. You can download it here.

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Hands-on: 'Authenticator' is a new 2FA app for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch (4)

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Hands-on: 'Authenticator' is a new 2FA app for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch (2024)

FAQs

What is the Authenticator app that works on Apple Watch? ›

Auth. is a 2FA and OTP management tool for everyone. It works with all Apple personal devices — auto synchronize based on iCloud Keychain technology.

Does Apple have a 2FA Authenticator app? ›

To manually set up 2FA authentication using the built-in iOS authenticator app, open the 'Settings' app on your device. Now, swipe down, find the 'Passwords' option and tap on it. Here, you will see an option that lets you create a new login or password or choose from an existing one.

Is there a free Authenticator app for 2FA? ›

2FAS is the easiest way to enable two-factor authentication (or multi-factor authentication) to verify your identity and securely log in to accounts to keep your personal data and passwords protected from cyber threats — all from one app, 100% free! The world's most secure, private, and simple 2FA app.

Is Authenticator not working on Apple Watch? ›

Microsoft Authenticator is ending support for the Apple Watch. Unfortunately, this means you'll no longer be able to conveniently log in to your connected accounts using just the wearable, as reported earlier by MacRumors. While the app's 6.7.

How to do 2 step verification on Apple Watch? ›

Use two-factor authentication
  1. Go to Settings > [your name] > Password & Security.
  2. Tap Turn On Two-Factor Authentication, then tap Continue.
  3. Enter a trusted phone number, a phone number where you want to receive verification codes for two-factor authentication (it can be the number for your iPhone). ...
  4. Tap Next.
Oct 24, 2022

Does Authy work with Apple Watch? ›

NOTE: The Authy App must be installed on a phone, not a tablet or desktop computer. The Authy App will also work on an Apple Watch.

Is there an Apple version of Google Authenticator? ›

Google Account integration for Google Authenticator is available on both iOS and Android devices.

Should I use an authenticator app? ›

When should I use an authenticator app? The primary reason for using an authenticator app is to keep your accounts secure. With so much malware created, phishing scams perpetrated, and hackers getting even smarter, using strong passwords may not be enough.

Is Apple authenticator app safe? ›

Secure & Private: All data stored in Authenticator is always encrypted, even when it's stored in iCloud, to ensure that you are the only one who can access your data. 2FA Secured Backup: Safe and secure encrypted iCloud backups for all your 2FA codes, passwords, and secret keys.

What is the safest 2FA app? ›

Authy. Authy by Twilio is a universal 2FA app, available for iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and even Linux. It is also said to be the most trusted 2FA app and is free for users while businesses have to pay for it.

What is the easiest authenticator app to use? ›

Twilio Authy

Authy is one of the OG authenticator apps, prizing itself as a more convenient version of Google Authenticator with support for cloud backups of your codes. It also supports syncing across multiple devices, so you don't need to refer to one device when trying to log into another.

How much does the authenticator app cost? ›

Authenticator is a simple, free, and open source two-factor authentication app. It helps keep your online accounts secure by generating unique one-time passwords, which you use in combination with your other passwords to log into supporting websites.

Why doesn't 2FA Authenticator work? ›

Problems logging into your account

The most common cause of 2-factor authentication problems is that the time on your Google Authenticator app is not synced correctly.

Why doesn t my Authenticator work? ›

If your Google Authenticator app is not working, either on Android or iPhone, there may be a glitch with the time sync. Fortunately, it's easy to fix this if Google Authenticator has stopped working. Here's how. All you have to do is make sure your Google Authenticator app's time is synced correctly.

What happens if I cant use my Authenticator app? ›

A common fix for any problems with the authenticator app is to update your software. Ensure your device and all apps are up to date. For more support on the authentication app, you can view the authenticator app set-up video, or you can visit Microsoft's support pages.

What is the Authenticator app on my device? ›

If you want to guard against unauthorized users gaining access to your data, authenticator apps help strengthen passwords and protect against identity theft. You can use these apps on many different types of devices, like your iPhone or Android phone, to protect email, banking, and other account login information.

How do I set up Apple Authenticator app? ›

On your other device, sign in to the area of the website or app where you manage your account, then select options to enable two-factor authentication and an authenticator app. A QR code appears to help you set up an authenticator app. On iPhone, use the camera to scan the QR code.

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