2FASecurity
How to log in with a 2FA secret key
Bought an account that came with a 2FA key, or lost your authenticator app? Here's how to turn the key into a working login code.
· 1 min read
Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds a second step to logging in. After your password, the app asks for a 6-digit code that changes every 30 seconds. That code comes from a secret key.
What a 2FA secret key looks like
It's a string of letters and numbers, often in groups, like JBSW Y3DP EHPK 3PXP. Sometimes you get it as a QR code instead. Accounts you buy often come with one.
Get your code in three steps
- Open the 2FA Code Generator.
- Paste the secret key, or upload a screenshot of the QR code.
- Copy the 6-digit code and enter it on the login page before the timer runs out.
The generator runs entirely in your browser. Your key is never sent to our servers.
If the code doesn't work
- Check your phone's time. Codes depend on the clock. Set your date and time to automatic.
- Wait for a fresh code. If the timer is nearly done, wait for the next one.
- Make sure the key is complete. Spaces don't matter, but a missing letter does.
Keep your keys safe
Anyone with your secret key can make your login codes. Store it somewhere private, like our free Password Vault, together with the account's email and password.
Ready to try it?
Open the 2FA Code Generator