2fa (Accrescent app) wiped itself

C2Z7

Hi, all. First time poster and noob here, hoping that I'm posting correctly and in the proper channels. Been loving Graphene so far, but I have a huge problem... It's regarding the app called simply "2fa" from the Accrescent app store. (For reference, I'm using a Pixel 9a with GrapheneOS build # 2026012100)

Today I opened the "2fa" app to get a code for an account, but instead of my auth codes greeting me, I was greeted by a "welcome" / "setup" screen. This must have occurred sometime within the past couple days, because it was functioning fine a couple of days ago.

This is quite a surprise to me because it has functioned flawlessly since I installed around ₆ months ago. It sucks because I have quite a few accounts in there...

Is there anything I can do? I thought I had backups enabled, but I cannot find any files or anything in the internal memory. I'm scared to even touch the app, in case it wipes the hopeful backups.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated and would help me out A LOT. Thank you for your time.

nandohyphen1

DeletedUser685 Files app, three dots in the right upper corner, Show hidden files. There is a hidden folder .SeedVaultAndroidBackup. Then Settings, System, Backup, three dots, Restore backup

No, I think C2Z7 means an app specific backup, not system. So typically an app specific backup would be in a folder you set up initially (maybe you called that folder '2FA Backups" or "Backups"). Usually you'll find this by going to Files > Menu (top left) > Pixel 9a and it should be in one of those folders, if you set it up and know what it would be called.

Winston

C2Z7 update?

This is why i like e2ee cloud providers/services (bitwarden, ente, proton, etc). I think hardware/local/offline-only maxi's overstate their case. With properly secured accounts, the potential risks of "hot" is better than the usability tax of "cold". For most people. Or maybe its just me.

DeletedUser639

C2Z7

you have not been the only on affected, https://github.com/979st/2fa-android/issues/24

Your only way out is, if there is a backup on your phone. You might not have initiated one yourself, however the app may well have. You need to have a good serious look at the phones files etc...

DeletedUser685

Files app, three dots in the right upper corner, Show hidden files. There is a hidden folder .SeedVaultAndroidBackup. Then Settings, System, Backup, three dots, Restore backup.

DeletedUser685

nandohyphen1 app specific backup

Settings, System, Backup, Backup my apps toggle (on/off), then Backup status to verify that app data has been saved.

subwoofer

<parent mode>The learning experience here is that you make sure that your backups are working, that you know where they're kept and how to restore them before the first time you need them</parent mode>

The app says that the backups are internal, whatever that could mean, but it doesn't provide any information on how to invoke them.

I did find, though, that support is provided via https://codeberg.org/979/2fa where they provide a few communication channels.

Good luck!

DeletedUser639

subwoofer make sure that your backups are working, that you know where they're kept and how to restore them before the first time you need them.

Perfect advice.

nandohyphen1

DeletedUser685 oh yes! I didn't think of that, but I guess that would work to see if app data was backed up too (if the OP was using Seedvault). I just thought of app backups separately because I know lots of apps let you back the app data up to its own folder where it can auto backup to.

horde

https://github.com/979st/2fa-android/issues/20

https://github.com/979st/2fa-android/issues/24

subwoofer

Another thing to note is that the product seems to still be considered "beta" by the devs. This implies extra caution should be exercised in using it.

Divby0

Just go through the new initial settings. Everything will be there.

mar2112

I suggest switching to Aegis from multi factor codes. Their data backup works and can be set to automatically backup.

n3t_admin

Winston they don't overstate their case. You just have to be smart when using manual solutions by backing up your 2FA hashes properly. That goes for cloud providers, too. They just tend to have more redundancy and resilience built into their service, whereas you yourself are responsible for local solutions.
Unfortunately, people have been trained to just "set up and forget" without ever thinking about the what-ifs that might occur. And you can thank the dumb people for that, who dragged everyone down to their level.

Winston

n3t_admin i think they do overstate their case, its all you hear about in privacy/security discussions. I just think most people are not responsible enough for local solutions, but i also don't think it's necessary. The maxi's also like to use journalists and activists (or whoever with higher threat models) as those who should really use local, but to me that increases attack surface, if items being confiscated is a legitimate threat.

JackWelsh97

I had this issue, I did have a backup but didn't need to use it. You just have to go through the setup screen as you would if you just installed the app and then it should show you all of your Auth codes.