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When to Use?
The following document describes how to set up Google Authenticator on your Android or IOS device. Google Authenticator can be used as a Multifactor option which is required to sign into your GVSU account.
Installation Instructions
- Install the Google Authenticator app from the Google Play Store or the App Store on your Android or Apple device.
- Note: The Google Play Store will require you to use a Google account for logging into the Google Play Store and downloading apps.
Picture of Google Authenticator icon in the Google Play store.
- Note: The App Store will require you to use an Apple account for logging into the App Store and downloading apps.
Picture of Google Authenticator icon in the App Store.
- After installation, use a separate device to navigate to my.gvsu.edu.
- Sign in with your GVSU credentials.
- If you have already set up a multifactor authentication method and would like to add Google Authenticator as an additional method, sign into my.gvsu.edu, click on your name in the upper right hand corner, click settings, and then scroll down to security methods. You can add Google Authenticator from there and follow the steps below to set it up.
- You will see a prompt asking you to set up an authenticator. Click Set up on the Google Authenticator option.
Picture of Google Authenticator setup button.
- On the next screen, you will see a QR code. Stay on this page for now and return to your phone.
Picture of Google Authenticator QR code scan prompt.
- On your Android phone, open the Google Authenticator app.
- Note: If you use Google Authenticator already for a personal account or for another organization, tap the plus (+) button in the bottom right corner and skip to step 11. Otherwise, continue to follow the instructions below.
- Click Get Started.
- Tap Use without an account. If you wish to back up your authenticator code to a personal Gmail account, please refer to the bottom of the document for a link to the Google help article.
- Click Add a code.
- You will be brought to a page that says Setup your first account.
- Tap Scan a QR Code.
- Allow access to the camera on your phone if prompted.
- Using the camera in the Google Authenticator app, scan the QR code on the other device you have logged into my.gvsu.edu.
- This will add your GVSU account to the Google Authenticator app on your phone and you will see a rotating code available for you to use when signing into your GVSU account.
- On the setup screen on your other device, click Next.
- Enter the code you see on your phone into the setup page on my.gvsu.edu when prompted.
Picture of prompt to enter code from Google Authenticator.
- Click Verify.
- You will be brought back to the list of authenticators, and you will no longer see Google Authenticator as an option for setup. Click continue and you will be logged into the GVSU apps page. Google Authenticator setup is complete.
Please see Google’s help page for Google Authenticator if you wish to link the app to a Google Account or have other questions regarding the app’s functionality beyond the basic setup for use with a GVSU account. Make sure you pick the Android or iPhone & iPad guide based on the device you are using.