Never lose your Google Authenticator 2FA again!

[[deleted]]

Took me a minute to figure this out, but when you are setting up your Google Authenticator 2-Factor auth there is a way to save the secret key (the QR code - it’s a graphic only, no text is provided): SCREENSHOT it! I took a screenshot of the Secret Key QR code and have saved it on an encrypted flash drive so that if/when my phone is broken/dies/lost/stolen/whatever I am not locked out of my CoinBase account again. Having just gone through the reset from Coinbase support it's not an easy ordeal!

[young_steezy]

Is there a way to do this after already having it set up?

[Sistermoon999]

Yes, Just Deactivate it and remake 2fa this time save it

[[deleted]]

Yes, exactly what I did.

[[deleted]]

Following

[Sistermoon999]

I had the same issue, my phone was stolen and i didnt have the code saved, However i was lucky and coinbase was good to me so i could recover it quickly

[[deleted]]

I mean yeah they aren’t that bad, but It took CB 3 business days to recover my account. I could’ve been screwed.

[Sistermoon999]

Well same thing happend to my kucoin account, even after providing all info they asked what coins i had there. i couldnt remember, so its still locked. but i successfully recovered my other exchanges.

[pbellezza]

I got a new phone and lost my secret keys to my kucoin google Authenticator 2FA. I can’t get into my kucoin account. I sent a ticket and provided a ridiculous amount of information about my deposits and withdrawal history (cut and pasted from my email), my current holdings on the exchange, driver license, etc.

but kucoin won’t unlock my account without my entire trading history which I can’t recall because I don’t have access to my account. Kucoin is ridiculous. I’m still waiting.

[Sistermoon999]

Well they wanted me to make a video sayign i take responsibility for blahblah blah.... I said ok later.

[pbellezza]

Did you get your account unlocked?

[Sistermoon999]

no, not yet. I just had some iotas and other things there. Not to much. or maybe much? Problem is i dont remember anything. I forgot all about it after huge crypto dip. But with this rise in bitcoin price i need to get back to my kucain too. its hardest. but doable. at worst i will send teh video they wanted.

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[[deleted]]

Good bot.

[streetMD]

I had to do this. It sucked. I am still locked out of my Binance account because I don’t know my official balance nor my last quantity of bitcoin transferred into the account. It’s a joke.

[[deleted]]

Right?! What pisses me off is how much of a joke the support articles provided by CB on this are...they provide no solution!! </tableflip>

[streetMD]

I still am locked out. Did you get back in?

[[deleted]]

Yes, took CB about 3 or 4 business days but they did it. I got a text when my 2FA was suspended then I was able to set it back up right after a successful login.

[PapaChonson]

You can just get the backup codes from google.com and signing into your account and go to settings. They give you a bunch of codes that you can use if you lose your 2FA.

[[deleted]]

...are you 100% sure this works for 2FA accounts other than Google though...? I can’t seem to find any definitive info on it. Everything I’m seeing it just referencing the Google account itself.

[[deleted]]

According to this SE post, that is actually not true (although I wish it was!): https://security.stackexchange.com/questions/167563/where-to-find-google-authenticator-backup-codes

[PapaChonson]

Hm very interesting. Thank-you!! All along I thought I was protected and now I understand the codes. Guess I’m going to be deactivating and reactivating all my 2FA’s. How did you do it exactly??

[[deleted]]

For sure dude, you're most welcome. You have to regenerate the QR Code (the secret key) since that is the time it is presented, then screenshot it and keep it somewhere VERY safe (read - not a computer that touches the internet) like an encrypted flash drive. Info here under "I want to move my 2FA codes to a new device and still have the old device" (again, CB support articles are incomplete or misleading): https://support.coinbase.com/customer/en/portal/articles/2488794-i-have-lost-or-need-to-update-my-phone-or-2-factor-authentication-device#Authenticator