Google Authenticator now forcing use of a Google account?

MissedCaller

I wonder if anybody else has this issue. I've been using Google Authenticator fine for years without a Google account but on startup it now has a blocking screen saying "Welcome to Google Authenticator. Sign in to save your codes to your Google Account". Then at the bottom of the screen it says "Failed to load accounts" because I don't have a Google Account on the device. That startup screen blocks any use of the app. I would prefer not to save my codes to Google.

Eagle_Owl

MissedCaller
For years, Google Authenticator did not offer a backup option.
Many users lost their credentials when there was a problem with the app and got into serious trouble as a result.

Presumably Google also wants to increase user loyalty because of the lack of a backup in its older app versions?

This cannot happen with a well thought-out and fully programmed solution like Aegis Authenticator.

yore

MissedCaller I recently switched from Google Authenticator to Aegis Authenticator. Aegis does the same except there is no bloat or privacy implications.

I exported my codes via QR code. Take a screenshot of the QR code and put it through Aegis and your codes will transfer over.

Glad I switched 😛

goethe

https://github.com/beemdevelopment/Aegis

Eagle_Owl

goethe
Thanks for this link!

I am a long-time user of that great app, but not every member of this forum knows it.
I can highly recommend it.
It's a no-brainer.
You need it, it's worth it!
Give it a try!

Eagle_Owl

yore
Congratulations! I am happy for you!
By the way, I think the Aegis Authenticator is not only technically better (automatic local backups!), it is also really beautiful and can help save energy, because you can set a really black background (AMOLED design), not just grey as with many apps.
And there are all the company logos to download, so you can customise each entry with the right logo. I think it's wonderful.

Tip: For backups select a local directory (e.g.: Backups/Aegis), set up auto-backup after every change and mail yourself the backup files on a regular basis, if you have an E2EE mail provider like Tuta Mail.
This is more comfortable as an SD card reader. ;-)

MissedCaller

Just FYI in case anybody else ever has this issue, I found that after installing sandboxed Google Play Services from the GrapheneOS App Store app, Google Authenticator graciously allowed me to run it without a Google account, so I could at least get into Google Authenticator again for one last time in order to migrate to Aegis.

Authenticated01

MissedCaller thanks for this, I was freaking out. Installing sandboxed google play and logging into google allowed the latest version to unbrick itself long enough for me to click "noprofile" and get to my non-backed up, non tracked, codes. Learned my lesson. Never again google.