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Comment by ClassyJacket | Hacker News Reader

I would love to save the QR codes, but Google bans screenshots in the Authenticator app.

Other apps will reveal the underlying seed string. No need to deal with QR codes after scanning them once.

Auhenticator has an option to generate back up codes. it creates one or two QR codes that you can scan in a new Authenticator app and it will clone all of your accounts.

Good luck trying to save those QR codes, though. I had to resort to pulling out my DSLR to take a photo of my phone with them.

All screenshot/print/save functionality is disabled when you have the codes up on your phone.

You need an actual camera on a second device to save them in most cases.

Not true, I just did it a few weeks ago when moving to a new phone. Just screenshotted the backup QR code and when I got my new phone later I used the screenshot.

At least on recent Android versions, it blocks you from screenshotting it, FWIW.

Not in iOS, apparently. I recently printed out my QR codes by screenshotting Authenticator's export screen on an iPhone. I just tested a moment ago and it still works.

An app can deny access to take screenshots in Android. In iOS, there's no way to deny screenshots, but apps can be notified if a screenshot is taken. What the app then does with that information... you may not know ahead of time. Be careful out there!

Take a photo with a second phone/webcam?

If you're on Android, get Aegis. It's better anyway and you can export backups.

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