How to get 2FA codes on your desktop when your phone is MIA

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I use two-factor authentication every day. Any app or service that offers additional security, you can bet I’m enabling it. Not only does 2FA help secure your accounts, but it’s also very easy to use.

The only caveat is you have to have your phone nearby to access time-based authentication codes. Sometimes, I don’t have my phone in the same room when I’m trying to log in to a site, app, or service. To that end, I have to get up, trudge through the house, find my phone, and retrieve the code.

What if there were an easier method? There is.

Also: Why multi-factor authentication is absolutely essential in 2025

There are 2FA apps you can install on your desktop that work just like the one on your phone. You add an account to the app and then, when you need to log in to that account, you tap the entry in the 2FA app, retrieve the code, and use that code to access the account.

Instead of getting up and stumbling through the house for your phone, you can do it all from the convenience of your desktop or laptop. But which apps are available?

Also: 10 passkey survival tips: Prepare for your passwordless future now

It’s a shame that Authy isn’t available for the desktop, because that would be ideal. That doesn’t mean there aren’t quality desktop apps out there. In fact, I’m going to highlight one app for each major OS — Linux, MacOS, and Windows.

1. Authenticator (Linux)

Authenticator is a 2FA desktop app for Linux, and it’s as simple to use as anything you’d have on your phone. With Authenticator, you add accounts as you would with your mobile app, save them, and then call them up when needed.

Authenticator includes a long list of providers (token issuers) that you can select from. Features include time-based, counter-based, and Steam method support; SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512 algorithm support; QR-code scanning using a camera or from a screenshot; application locking with a password; GNOME Shell search provider; and backup/restore from or into known applications such as FreeOTP+, Aegis (encrypted or plain text), andOTP, and Google Authenticator.

Also: How to set up 2FA for Linux desktop logins for added security

The app is simple to use, but I suggest you have an attached webcam to make scanning QR codes possible. If not, you can always take a screenshot of the QR code and the app can detect the code from there. You can add an account from the list of providers (trust me, there are plenty) by clicking the + button in the top left corner and then searching for the provider in question.

Authenticator can be installed using Flatpak. If your Linux distribution has Flatpak baked into the app store GUI, search for it and install it from there. Otherwise, install it with the command:

flatpak install flathub com.belmoussaoui.Authenticator

The Linux Authenticator app. — Adding a new account in Authenticator is quick and painless.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Authenticator is free to install and use.

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2. Apple Passwords (MacOS)

Why install a third-party app when you can use one that’s built-in? Apple Passwords includes a 2FA code section for each entry and makes it simple to add 2FA either via typed setup code or QR code. There’s nothing to add or enable, as the 2FA feature is ready by default.

Using 2FA in Apple Passwords is incredibly simple, and I would highly recommend you start using it ASAP because you won’t have to entrust your account authentication to yet another entity. Keeping it simple works well when the app supplying that simplicity is as good as Apple Passwords. That’s not to say there aren’t better apps (you could also use Bitwarden for 2FA codes), but if you’re already ensconced in the Apple ecosystem, there’s no reason to look elsewhere.

Also: The best security keys of 2025: Expert tested

Apple Passwords is installed by default and is free to use. Note that when you share an Apple Password entry, the 2FA code option is shared along with it.