AuthentiCatAuthentiCat support
Answers to common problems, and what each import error code means. Still stuck? Email support@authenticatapp.com and you'll hear back from me, the developer, usually within [2 working days].
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Importing from Google Authenticator
On your phone, open Google Authenticator › Transfer accounts › Export accounts, select your accounts and tap Next. In AuthentiCat, choose Import from Google Authenticator and scan the QR code with your Mac's camera. The full export guide has more detail.
Several QR codes? Large exports are split across more than one code. Scan each one. AuthentiCat shows how many it has received and waits until it has the whole set.
Some accounts are missing? Make sure every QR code in the export was scanned, and that the accounts were selected on your phone before tapping Next.
Import error codes
If an import fails, AuthentiCat shows a short code. Error messages never include your account names or secret keys, so it's safe to send the code to support.
| Code | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| M01 | The QR code isn't a Google Authenticator export. | If it's the setup QR code for a single site, use Add account… instead of Import. Otherwise, export again from Google Authenticator. |
| M02 | The QR code's data couldn't be decoded. | Scan again. Turn up your phone's brightness, hold it still and avoid glare. A camera sometimes misreads a code on the first try. |
| M03 | The QR codes don't belong to the same export. | You may have scanned codes from two different exports. Start a new export on your phone and scan all of its QR codes in order. |
| M04 | The export contains no accounts. | Export again and make sure at least one account is selected before tapping Next. |
| M05 | An account in the export is missing its secret key or has an invalid name. | Export again without that account, then add it manually from the site's security settings. |
| M06 | The export uses a format version AuthentiCat doesn't know yet. | Google may have changed its export format. Check the Mac App Store for an AuthentiCat update, and email support with the code. |
| M07 | An account uses an unsupported algorithm. | Export again without that account. AuthentiCat supports SHA-1, SHA-256 and SHA-512. |
| M08 | An account uses an unsupported number of digits. | Export again without that account. AuthentiCat supports 6- and 8-digit codes. |
| M09 | An account uses an unsupported code type, usually a counter-based (HOTP) account. | AuthentiCat only supports time-based codes. Export again without that account. Nothing from this QR code was imported. |
| M10 | The QR code's data is damaged or too large. | Scan again. If it keeps happening, export fewer accounts at a time. |
A QR code that mixes supported and unsupported accounts is rejected as a whole, so nothing is half-imported. Export again without the unsupported account and scan the new code.
The camera doesn't work
- AuthentiCat asks for camera access the first time you choose Scan with Mac camera. If you said no, open System Settings › Privacy & Security › Camera and turn AuthentiCat on.
- Close other apps that might be using the camera, such as video calls.
- No camera, or it still won't read? Take a screenshot of the QR code on your phone, send it to your Mac and use Choose QR image…. Delete the screenshot afterwards.
Scanning a QR code on screen
When a website shows a 2FA setup QR code, choose Scan QR code on screen and pick that browser window. AuthentiCat captures that one window once, reads the QR code in memory, and saves nothing.
A code isn't accepted
- Codes depend on the time. Check System Settings › General › Date & Time and turn on Set time and date automatically.
- Wait for a fresh code. When a code turns red, it's about to expire.
- Compare with your phone. If the phone's code works and AuthentiCat's doesn't, re-import that account, or email support.
macOS asks about Keychain access
AuthentiCat keeps your secrets in your macOS login Keychain. macOS may ask you to allow access, especially after an update. Choose Allow or Always Allow so AuthentiCat can read its own vault. It never reads anything else in your Keychain.
Moving to a new Mac
AuthentiCat doesn't sync through iCloud, so your accounts won't appear on a new Mac by themselves. On your old Mac, save a password-protected backup file from AuthentiCat and copy it to the new Mac, for example with AirDrop or a USB drive. Then restore it in AuthentiCat on the new Mac. [Add the exact menu names once the export screens are final]
Or export your accounts as QR codes on the old Mac and scan them with the new Mac's camera.
If your old Mac is lost, restore your most recent backup file, import again from an authenticator on your phone, or use each site's recovery codes.
Contact
Email support@authenticatapp.com. Include your macOS version, your AuthentiCat version and any error code. Never send QR codes, screenshots of them, or secret keys.