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What is two-step verification?

When you sign in, a service asks for your password and then for a short code. The code changes every 30 seconds and only exists on your device.

Someone who learns your password still can’t get in, because they don’t have the code. That’s why many services recommend two-step verification, and why it’s worth turning on wherever you can.

Adding an account

Open the security settings of the service, ideally on a computer. Look for two-step verification or an authenticator app. The service then shows a QR code.

In FairAuth, tap the plus button and scan the code. If you can’t scan, most services also show a setup key you can type in or paste.

The service usually asks for one code to confirm. Enter the code FairAuth shows, and you’re done. Many services then offer backup codes: keep them somewhere safe, they help if you ever lose your device.

If the service shows a setup link or a QR code on this device, tap the link or scan the code with the Camera. It opens in FairAuth once you choose FairAuth in Settings > General > AutoFill & Passwords under Verification Codes.

A code isn’t accepted

Codes depend on the time. Check that Set Automatically is on in Settings > General > Date & Time. A clock that is off by a minute is enough to make codes fail.

If the ring is almost empty, wait for the next code. In the last seconds FairAuth already shows it below the current one.

For counter-based accounts, every new code moves the counter on. If the service is out of step, enter two or three codes in a row.

Still not working? In the security settings of the service, turn off the authenticator app and set it up again with a new QR code.

How backups work

FairAuth offers two ways, and you can use both.

iCloud Sync keeps your codes on all your Apple devices. They are encrypted before they leave the device, and the key stays in your iCloud Keychain.

The backup file is saved after every change to a folder you choose, for example a USB drive, your NAS or your own cloud storage. It is protected by your backup password. Now and then, use Test Restore to check that it opens with your password.

Important: the regular iPhone backup doesn’t contain your codes. They are protected by a key that never leaves this device. That’s why FairAuth has its own backups.

Moving to a new device

With iCloud Sync: sign in with the same Apple Account on the new device, open FairAuth and choose Restore from Backup, then From iCloud.

With a backup file: open FairAuth on the new device, choose Restore from Backup, then From a Backup File, and enter your backup password.

Keep the old device until you’ve checked a few codes on the new one.

If you lose your device

Your codes are safe: FairAuth only opens with Face ID, Touch ID or your device passcode.

On a new device, restore from iCloud or from your backup file, as described in “Moving to a new device”.

Without any backup, use the backup codes the services gave you, or their account recovery. That’s why it’s worth setting up a backup today.

Moving from another app

Many authenticator apps can export your accounts. FairAuth reads these exports and shows what it found before anything is added.

If an app has no export, set up each account again: at the service, turn two-step verification off and on, and scan the new QR code with FairAuth.

Keep the old app until every account works in FairAuth. Then remove the accounts from the old app.

What FairAuth knows about you

Nothing. There is no FairAuth account, no analytics, no tracking and no advertising.

FairAuth only connects to Apple: to iCloud, if you turn on iCloud Sync, and to the App Store for purchases. Your codes are encrypted before they leave the device.

If you allow sharing with app developers in Settings, Apple may pass anonymous crash reports and usage statistics on to us. You decide that in Settings > Privacy & Security > Analytics & Improvements.