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Signing In with a Code

When a website asks for your code, open Private Authenticator and tap the account. This page explains the screen that appears, which the app calls the code screen.

Face ID first, every time

Tapping an account asks Face ID or Touch ID to confirm it's you. This happens on every single account, every time, even if you unlocked the app a moment ago. It is the reason a friend holding your unlocked phone still can't read your codes. There is no way to skip it, and no password to type instead: if Face ID or Touch ID isn't available, the code screen says so instead of showing the code.

Reading the code

Once you're confirmed, the code screen shows the account's name, its description and its tags, then the code in large clear digits, grouped for easy reading (123 456). Below the code, three circles called pebbles slowly empty as the code's time runs out, one after the other. When the code has five seconds or less to live it turns orange, and red at two seconds; then a new code appears and the pebbles fill again. If a code is about to run out, just wait for the next one rather than racing to type it.

[Screenshot: the code screen with a code, the three pebbles half empty, the tag chips and the Done button]

Typing or copying it

You can simply read the code and type it into the website. On the same iPhone, it's quicker to tap the code: the app copies it, closes the code screen and buzzes to confirm. Switch to the website and paste. For safety, the copied code disappears from the clipboard after 30 seconds and never travels to your other devices.

The screen closes by itself

The orange Done button slowly fills from left to right, and when it's full the code screen closes by itself, 20 seconds after the code appeared. Tap Done to close it sooner. If you'd like longer, or never, change Close After in Settings: The Settings Page.

Other things on this screen

  • The gear in the top corner opens the account for editing. The countdown pauses while you edit.
  • An archived account shows an ARCHIVED badge; tap it to bring the account back. See Archiving Instead of Deleting.
  • Leaving the app, or the iPhone locking, closes the code screen at once, and the app shows only its logo in the App Switcher, so a code is never left on display.

If the website rejects the code

  • Codes depend on the exact time. Make sure your iPhone sets its time automatically (Settings → General → Date & Time → Set Automatically). A clock that is a minute out makes every code wrong.
  • Each code only works for the account it belongs to. Check that you tapped the right one, especially if you have two accounts with the same website.
  • A code that was about to turn red may have expired while you typed it. Use the next one.
  • If none of that helps, see Troubleshooting.

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