Switch existing desktop 2FA from an authenticator app to 1Password

steph_giles I think the How-To could be more helpful. Right now, it says:

"Search 2fa.directory for the website.
Click the blue book button next to the name of the website."

Not all sites are in the 2fa directory, and not all of the links go to a current 2fa setup page.

"Follow the instructions the website provides.
When you see a QR code to scan or a string of characters to copy, continue with the next steps."

This just doesn't cut it; is about as barebones as you can get. And I'm an experienced developer and IT professional. Imagine how it is for people who are less experienced or not so great with technology.

First you have to find the instructions, which inevitably means going into your account settings for that site, looking for a setting about Two-factor authentication and using an authentication app. Often they mention only Google Authenticator, and sometimes Authy, whose desktop app is sunsetting in March 2024). No one mentions 1Password, which isn't surprising, but may throw people. Every site handles this differently. Some allow you to switch apps in one or two steps; others make for delete your current key, click through another screen or two. Then, once you finally see the QR code, you can go to 1Password to scan the code. And even then, sometimes 1Password offers a 2FA button to click, and sometimes it doesn't. If it doesn't, you have to click the three-dot menu and look for the QR code item. And then hope that 1Password is able to copy the code (not a given).

The 1Password folks could serve their customers a lot better by making more of an effort to ensure that their How-Tos describe and match the real world more closely, and don't leave customers scratching their heads and feeling frustrated because what they see doesn't match the instructions. This authentication stuff is not for the faint of heart, and most users probably don't really understand what's really going on and how it works.