Importing Factors

If you’re switching from another authenticator app, you don’t need to re-scan every QR code. FactorCat supports bulk import from several sources.

Import from Google Authenticator

Google Authenticator has a built-in export feature that creates a QR code containing all your tokens. FactorCat can read this directly.

1. Open Google Authenticator on your phone
2. Tap the menu (three dots) > Transfer accounts > Export accounts
3. Select the accounts you want to export (or select all)
4. Google Authenticator displays a QR code (or multiple QR codes if you have many accounts)
5. Open FactorCat > tap + > Import > Scan Google Authenticator export
6. Scan each export QR code — FactorCat parses the proprietary Google Authenticator export format and extracts every account
7. Review the imported factors and choose which vault to store them in

All factors are imported at once. No need to visit each service individually.

For a complete step-by-step walkthrough, see our Google Authenticator migration guide.

Migrate from Authy

Authy doesn’t offer a standard export feature, so migration works differently. You’ll re-enroll each account by disabling 2FA on the service and setting it up again with FactorCat.

The good news: this takes about 30 seconds per account, and you end up with a cleaner setup.

1. For each account you want to migrate:
   • Log in to the service
   • Go to the service’s security settings and disable 2FA (use your current Authy code to confirm)
   • Re-enable 2FA — the service shows a new QR code
   • Scan the new QR code with FactorCat instead of Authy
2. Verify the new factor works by using FactorCat to log in
3. Once verified, you can remove the old entry from Authy

For a complete walkthrough with tips for common services, see our Authy migration guide. For an editorial perspective on why people are switching, see Switch from Authy to FactorCat in 5 Minutes.

Manual import (otpauth URI)

If you have raw otpauth:// URIs (from a backup, a password manager export, or copied from a service’s setup page):

1. Open FactorCat > tap + > Import > Enter URI
2. Paste the full otpauth://totp/... URI
3. FactorCat parses the service name, account, secret, and parameters
4. Choose your vault and save

You can import one URI at a time using this method.

CSV import

For bulk imports from password managers or other tools that export to CSV:

1. Prepare a CSV file with columns for: service name, account/username, TOTP secret, and optionally algorithm, digits, and period
2. Open FactorCat > tap + > Import > CSV file
3. Select your file
4. FactorCat maps the columns and shows a preview of what will be imported
5. Choose the target vault and confirm

Choosing a vault during import

During any import method, you choose which vault to store the imported factors in:

• Cloud Vault — cloud-managed encryption, easy recovery, cross-device sync. Good default for most imported factors.
• Locked Vault — zero-knowledge encryption. You hold the key. Best for high-security accounts you want maximum protection for.

You can always move factors between vaults later. A common pattern: import everything to Cloud Vault first, then move your most sensitive accounts (banking, crypto, infrastructure) to a Locked Vault once you’re comfortable with the recovery model.

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For adding factors one at a time, see Adding Factors. For the full comparison with your current authenticator, see our comparison pages.