Authenticator QR Image Import Not Working? Try These Steps

First, Do Not Disable Your Existing 2FA

Keep the old authenticator, browser tab, recovery codes, and account session open until a code from the new app has worked. A failed image import is usually a QR-quality or format problem; deleting the old setup first turns a small scanning issue into an account-recovery problem.

What to Try When a QR Image Will Not Import

1. Use the original screenshot. Cropped, forwarded, or compressed copies may blur the small squares the scanner needs.
2. Crop to one complete QR code with a small white border. Remove nearby QR codes, pop-ups, or screen controls from the frame.
3. Make sure all four edges and the three large corner markers are visible. Do not crop tightly through the white margin.
4. Increase screen brightness before taking a fresh screenshot, and avoid markup, dark filters, glare, or perspective distortion.
5. Confirm the image is an enrollment QR code from the account's security settings, not a sign-in QR, recovery-code page, payment code, or export screen your app does not support.
6. If the service shows a setup key below the QR code, use manual entry instead of repeatedly rescanning the same bad image.

What Is a QR TOTP Code?

A TOTP enrollment QR code contains a secret setup key plus an account label and timing settings. Your authenticator stores that secret and combines it with the current time to generate a new short code, usually every 30 seconds. The QR image is only a convenient way to transfer the setup information; it is not the changing six-digit code itself. Read our plain-English TOTP explanation for the full process.

Treat an enrollment QR screenshot like a password. Anyone who copies it may be able to generate the same future codes. Delete temporary screenshots after the account is safely enrolled, including copies in Recently Deleted when appropriate.

How to Set Up the Account Manually

1. On the website or app you are securing, look for “Can't scan?”, “Enter setup key,” or “Manual setup.”
2. In Authenticator App 2FA – Vats, choose the manual-entry option instead of QR import.
3. Enter the account name and secret exactly as displayed. Spaces are usually ignored, but confusing O with 0 or I with 1 will break every code.
4. Choose time-based or TOTP unless the service explicitly says counter-based or HOTP.
5. Enter the newly generated code on the service's confirmation screen before closing anything.
6. Save the service's recovery codes somewhere separate from the phone.

If Every Generated Code Is Rejected

• Check the phone clock: enable automatic date, time, and time zone. TOTP depends on accurate time.
• Wait for a fresh code: a code near the end of its countdown may expire while you type it.
• Check the account: make sure you are entering the code for the correct service and username.
• Re-enroll once: remove only the unconfirmed entry from the new app, generate a fresh QR/setup key, and try again.
• Use recovery: if you already lost access to the old authenticator, use a saved recovery code or the service's official account-recovery process.

The Safe Next Step

If the QR is clear, import it directly. If it still fails, manual key entry is the reliable fallback—it creates the same TOTP account without depending on image recognition. Our dedicated screenshot-import guide covers the migration flow in more detail.