Question

can't find authenticator cod

Forum|Forum|10 months ago
August 12, 2025
4 replies
106 views

I just used a website where I was required to use an "authenticator" as an extra security measure. I believe that I was able to use 1Password for this purpose. I signed on, and with my app, found a code. Everything worked.

But now when I try to log back onto that website, and I am asked for the authenticator code, I cannot find a way to access it on my 1password account. In other words, I see the password for the website but not the additional authenticator code.

Please tell me how I can find the authenticator code.

AJCxZ0

Did you set up a one-time password (TOTP - the numerical code which changes periodically) or a passkey (where you click to log in)? It sounds like a one-time password, but you tagged your post with PASSKEYS.

In either case, you can find everything you stored for any particular website by looking for that website in your client - desktop, mobile, or browser extension.

If the password is offered, but not the TOTP, it may be a web site issue. Click on the 1Password extension icon and scroll down until you either find it or confirm that it's not there. In the latter case, you may have saved the TOTP in a new Item, so look for that.

📟🐟

J

jneumanAuthor

So this is what I think happened. I logged on to a website (actually government website for attorneys) and for the first time was advised to use an "authenticator" app for additional security. I believe I was able to do this with 1password. Then, next time I logged on, I was asked for the authenticator's code, which led me to search unsuccessfully on 1password.

But then I noticed that I happened to have icloud password keychain running too. And when I found my logon info with the icloud password key chain, I saw that icloud was generating some numbers. I was sithen able to use those numbers to get on to the government website.

Now, my understanding is that the "authenticator" apps the website had in mind (and 1password was not included in the list of third party suggestions) is meant to generate new numbers every single time I log on.

Assuming I understand the process correctly, is there a way I can get 1Password to generate new numbers every single time I log on, just as the icloud password function appears to do?

AJCxZ0

There are several ways to go about switching a TOTP provider from one application (e.g. iCloud) to another (e.g. 1Password).
The most straightforward is to obtain the key from the first application and add it to the other. Of course that involves knowing how to find the key in the first application.
The easiest, but most labour-intensive, for most folks is to use the TOTP code from the first application (iCloud) to log in to the website, then disable TOTP, delete the TOTP entry from both service and client (website and iCloud), set up TOTP again and use the other application (1Password).

When doing any of this kind of authentication change, leave a browser session logged in while making all the changes in a Private or Incognito session where you can test logging out and back in.

The Timed One-Time Password (TOTP) is a standard protocol implemented in many clients in which a secret key - the alphanumeric code - and time are used to generate a six digit number.

PS. You might want to change the tags on your post from PASSKEYS to something relevant such as MACOS and BEST PRACTICES.

J

jneumanAuthor

I changed the tags, as suggested.

I'm still not sure about one thing, though: does Ipassword have the "authenticator" function (which I now understand means the process of generating codes)? Or does it only save passwords.

AJCxZ0

Muhammed Faruk Söğüt's IPassword app does not appear to be an authenticator, i.e. a provider of TOTPs. I found this information by searching the interwebs.

The term "authenticator" refers to a hardware or software product which - at minimum - implements the TOTP standard.

1P_Dave

1Password Employee

Hello @jneuman! 👋

Welcome to the community! I've read through the conversation in this thread and it sounds like you're using both 1Password and Apple Passwords at the same time. I recommend that you only use one password manager at a time to prevent conflicts and confusion, you can follow this guide to turn off Apple Passwords:

Turn off the built-in password manager in your browser

If you've currently saved a one-time password in Apple Passwords then you can either migrate your items to 1Password using the import feature or you can go back to the website that you're using and remove the current one-time password. Then setup two-factor authentication for the website again and use 1Password to save the new one-time password: Use 1Password as an authenticator for sites with two-factor authentication

Let me know if you run into any issues.

-Dave

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