Can I use Google Authenticator for two-factor authentication of Apple ID?

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Level 1

33 points

Can I use Google Authenticator for two-factor authentication of Apple ID?

I have a Macbook Air, and I want to use two factor authentication. However, I would like to know if there is any app that I can use on my Android Phone, to allow two factor authentication.

Right now I use either Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator to generate Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) codes. Either for Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Dropbox, Electronic Arts or Team Viewer. Isn't there any option from Apple side, that would allow me to use an external software to use two-factor authentication?

Don't take me wrong, Apple's two-factor authentication works quite well. Even better if you have an iPhone, an iMac and a iPad. You could use any of them to allow Apple check on two-factor authentication. However, I do have a Macbook, and I would like to use two-factor authentication, and only being able to allow access through my notebook, really isn't the best option...

Does anyone know of alternatives?

Thanks in advance.

MacBook Air, macOS Sierra (10.12.4)

Posted on Mar 30, 2017 1:58 PM

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Answer 1

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Davi_ Author

Level 1

33 points

Apr 11, 2017 8:52 AM in response to Tesserax

Thanks for the help Tesserax.

Actually, what I am doing right now is receiving codes through my phone.

It is just that, I really do like having the two-factor authentication turned on. However, I travel outside of my country once in a while. And I have already been locked out of some of my accounts with 2FA!

It is just that every app wants to have its proprietary 2FA. Battle.net, Steam, Apple... And at the same time, there is a kind of standard 2FA, that Google and Microsoft use. They _do_ offer an app, where you can just touch and allow or deny access, much like apple does. However, at the same time, they do allow a standard code generator, like Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator to generate offline codes.

By the way, I do have a Windows Phone and an Android Phone. And Microsoft Authenticator generates Google's 2FA codes, and Google Authenticator generates Microsoft's 2FA codes. That is the beauty of standarization... 😉

I was really hoping that someone would know how to use one of those standards code generators to generate the apple codes... But, it seems like there is not really a way to do that. :/

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Answer 2

May 16, 2017 9:21 AM in response to Davi_

Sorry, but Apple does not believe in that much standardization.

I'm in the same boat as you are. I use an Android device and my iPad keeps yelling 2FA to me. I want to use Google Authenticator for everything and it is very much possible, but not for Apple devices.

******
<Edited by Host>

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Answer 3

Tesserax

Level 10

152,170 points

Mar 30, 2017 2:14 PM in response to Davi_

For Apple's implementation of two-factor authentication requires a trusted device. This, currently, can be either an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch (iOS 9+), or a Mac running OS X El Capitan or later. This is where the verification code will be sent to.

However, two-factor authentication can also work with a trusted phone number to a device that can receive either text messages or phone calls. This, I believe, can be a non-Apple device.

AFAIK, there isn't an Android app that can generate an Apple ID verification code.

Ref: I want to sign in on my android phone? - ASC

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Answer 4

Eric Root

Level 10

684,591 points

Dec 2, 2017 9:09 AM in response to osx_customer

Send Apple feedback. They won't answer, but at least will know there is a problem or a suggestion for change. If enough people send feedback, it may get the problem/suggested change solved sooner.

Click here to send Feedback

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