Google Authenticator for Android has received its first update in years. It brings with it a series of welcome changes that should’ve been in the app years ago. Better late than never, right?
Google Authenticator Android App Gets First Update In Three Years
The Verge notes that this is the first time Google has updated the Google Authenticator app on Android since August 22, 2017. So, it took nearly three years for Google to realise that they have an authentication app that needs some work.
The changes that this update brings are legitimately good, though. The first big one is that you can now move accounts from one device to another quite easily. Before you had to go through a messy process where you’d have to transfer your accounts one-by-one.
Google Authenticator Makes Switching Devices Easy
If you used Google Authenticator as your two-factor authenticator for many different accounts, this could take a while. Now, they’ve introduced a dedicated import/export feature.
All you have to do is scan a QR code to transfer all of your accounts to a new device. It’s a simple, pain-free process that makes the app much more user-friendly.
This update also brings a couple of aesthetic changes to the Android app. It now supports screens that have aspect ratios that aren’t the old standard of 16:9. Before this update, the app looked really dated on newer devices, most of which sport 18:9 or 19:9 aspect ratios.
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Authenticator Doesn’t Look Outdated Anymore
Another change that this update brings with it is support for Google’s own Material Design 2 standards. So, the user interface now looks like the latest stock Android operating system. It also has support for an OLED dark mode. If your device happens to have an OLED display, this app should fit right in with the rest of them now.
Many of these are features that Google Authenticators’ competitors, such as Authy, have had for years. It’s still a relief to see them come to Google Authenticator itself, though. The iOS app doesn’t have these features yet, but it should only be a matter of time.
It did get an update just last year to add support for the iPhone X’s notched displays, but that’s about it.
