Backups and Sync in Authy

Authy allows you to backup and sync your 2FA account tokens across multiple device and device types - phones, tablets and computers. This guide explains how Authy Backups work, and how to enable or disable them.

Backups Overview

Once backups are enabled, you'll be prompted to set a password that is used to create a secure key for encrypting all of your configured Authy 2FA account tokens. Once Authy encrypts your tokens, they can be synchronized to another device or Authy app instance. Synchronized tokens can then be unencrypted with the password you entered when enabling backups.

You can read more details about how the tokens are backed up and encrypted here: How Authy 2FA Backups Work (Authy Blog).

Enable or Disable Authy Backups

Please click the appropriate link for instructions on enabling or disabling Backups from each of our Authy Apps:

• Android
• Chrome
• Desktop - Linux, MacOS (OSX), or Windows
• iOS

Alert: The Backups password is never sent or stored in our servers for your security, so make sure you write it down somewhere safe, and/or use a password only you know. Users without the valid backups password may be unable to decrypt synchronized tokens. For more information, please see Authy Backups Password Recovery.

Enable or disable Authy Backups on Android

1. Open the Authy Android app.
2. Tap the … (menu) icon in the upper right corner, and then select Settings.
3. From the "Accounts" tab, tap the Backups switch to enable or disable.
4. To enable Backup & Sync, enter and re-enter the desired backup password.

To change the backups password, tap Settings > Accounts tab > Change Password.

Enable or disable Authy Backups on the Chrome app

Notice: The Authy for Chrome App & Extension is no longer supported. For full details, see Authy for Chrome App & Extension End of Life.

1. Open the Authy Chrome app.
2. Click the Settings icon  in the top left corner.
3. Click Backups & Sync.
4. To enable Backup & Sync, enter and re-enter the desired backup password.

To change the backups password, tap Settings > External Accounts tab > Change Backups Password.

Enable or disable Authy Backups on the desktop app for Linux, MacOS (OSX), or Windows

1. Open the Authy Desktop app.
2. Click the Settings icon  in the bottom right corner.
3. Click Accounts.
4. Click Authenticator Encrypted Backups.
5. To enable Backup & Sync, enter and re-enter the desired backup password.

To change the backups password, tap Settings > Accounts > Authenticator Backups Password Change.

Enable or disable Authy Backups on iOS

1. Open the Authy iOS app.
2. Tap Settings in the upper right corner.
3. From the "Accounts" tab, tap the Authenticator Backups switch to enable or disable.
4. To enable Backup & Sync, enter and re-enter the desired backup password.

To change the backups password, tap Settings > Accounts tab > Change Password.

Additional Resources

• How Authy 2FA Backups Work (Authy Blog)
• Changing the Authy Backups Password
• Authy Backup FAQs
• Authy Backups Password Recovery
• Backups password, Master password, and PIN protection with Authy