Why I Ditched Google Authenticator For Proton's New 2fa App - And How To Set It Up

Proton / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The makers of Proton VPN person released a 2FA app.
• The app is disposable for each awesome platforms.
• Proton Authenticator is easy to use, elegant, and free.

Unless you're utilizing passkeys, two-factor authentication should beryllium considered a must for information and privacy. If your superior entree to nan net is your phone, you are astir apt utilizing a instrumentality for illustration Authy aliases Google Authenticator. 

But what astir erstwhile you're connected nan desktop? What do you use? 

Also: 7 basal password rules to follow, according to information experts

There are options that person been astir for a while (such arsenic Bitwarden, Authy, aliases Authenticator), and there's moreover a caller action disposable from nan makers of Proton VPN. That caller solution is aptly named Proton Authenticator, and it has quickly go 1 of my favourite desktop 2FA apps.

You mightiness beryllium thinking, "Why not conscionable drawback your telephone erstwhile you request that 2FA code?" Reason number 1 is that erstwhile I'm moving connected my desktop, it's much businesslike to unfastened an app directly. Reason number 2 is that sometimes my telephone mightiness not beryllium wrong reach, and I don't want to way it down for that 2FA code. Ergo... desktop app.

The caller Proton Authenticator is disposable for Linux, MacOS, Windows, Android, iOS, and iPadOS.

What's location to opportunity astir a 2FA app? It allows you to create accounts for which you will person time-based codes to usage for nan added furniture of security. But what makes Proton Authenticator my caller go-to for 2FA?

Also: Protect yourself: How to take nan correct two-factor authenticator app

For 1 thing, I tin not only usage it connected my desktop, but besides connected my phone, and immoderate relationship I've added to nan app will sync betwixt nan two. That's a large woody erstwhile I'm moving from my desktop to my telephone (or vice versa) and don't want to person to move betwixt 2FA apps.

Another logic is that nan Proton Authenticator UI is 1 of nan champion I've utilized for 2FA. It's simple, elegant, and very easy to use. Even better, nan UI is akin for some nan desktop and mobile app, truthful erstwhile you cognize one, you'll cognize nan other.

The Proton Authenticator app is 1 of nan champion designed connected nan market.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Speaking of which, nan Proton Authenticator is very easy to use. Click Add to create a caller entry, capable successful nan basal fields (Title, Secret Key, and Issuer), click "Save code," and you're done. The only quality betwixt utilizing nan desktop and mobile app is that connected nan desktop app, you person to manually type nan concealed cardinal (usually presented nether nan QR codification for your account), and nan mobile app allows you to scan nan QR codification pinch your phone's camera.

Also: What are passkeys? How going passwordless tin simplify your life successful 2025

Adding a caller introduction connected nan Proton Authenticator desktop app does require that you manually type nan Secret Key.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

When creating a caller entry, you'll besides find nan Advanced options section, which allows you to configure nan number of digits for nan codification (usually it's 6), nan clip interval each codification will beryllium valid (default is 30 seconds), which algorithm to use, and nan type (TOTP aliases STEAM - TOTP is nan astir wide used).

You astir apt won't person to ever usage nan Advanced options, but they're ever there, should you request them.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Configuration options

The Proton Authenticator has a fewer adjuvant options wrong Settings (click nan Gear icon connected nan main window). 

Also: Proton Pass vs. 1Password: Which password head is correct for you?

Within Settings, you tin alteration "Sync betwixt devices" (it's abnormal by default), an app lock, whether you want to hide nan codes (you won't spot nan codes, but if you click connected 1 it is copied to your clipboard), alteration backups, theme, digit style, animate codification change, import/export, and support options.

If you alteration "Sync betwixt devices," you'll request a Proton account.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

You tin besides alteration biometric unlock connected your mobile device, which is simply a positive for security.

No relationship required

You tin usage nan Proton Authenticator free of complaint (on some desktop and mobile). The only logic an relationship is basal is if you want to sync betwixt devices. Even if you usage Proton Authenticator for free, location are nary ads, nor does nan app way you aliases stock telemetry pinch nan company.

Also: 7 password rules information experts unrecorded by successful 2025 - nan past 1 mightiness astonishment you

If you've grown tired of your existent 2FA app, you tin import each of your entries into Proton Authenticator. Supported 2FA apps see Google Authenticator, Aegis Authenticator, Bitwarden Authenticator, and LastPass Authenticator. Alas, Authy is not supported for this feature.

Installation

Installing Proton Authenticator is simple:

• On Linux, download either nan .deb aliases .rpm from nan official download page and tally nan bid to instal (such arsenic sudo dpkg -i ProtonAuthenticator*.deb).
• On MacOS and Windows, download nan installer, double-click it, and locomotion done nan elemental wizard.
• On Android/iOS/iPadOS, find Proton Authenticator successful your phone's app store, and instal it.

Once installed, unfastened nan app and commencement adding accounts.

Also: 4 things Proton's privacy-first AI chatbot Lumo tin do - and really to effort it

I've been utilizing nan Proton Authenticator since type 1.0 was released, and I'm slow migrating from Authy and Google Authenticator to my caller favourite default.

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