Objective

The Multi-Device feature allows you to link several devices to a single Authy account. When this feature is disabled, adding a new device will fail, resulting in an error prompt that suggests starting an account recovery.

This guide explains how the Multi-Device setting functions and outlines the exact steps to take if you encounter this error while attempting to register a new device.

Product

Authy

Procedure

Enable (or disable) Authy Multi-Device

The Multi-Device feature allows you to link multiple trusted devices, such as a phone and a tablet to a single Authy account so your 2FA tokens stay synchronized.

To enable Multi-Device, you can tap the gear icon to access Authy Settings then Devices and toggle the Allow multi-device setting.

To secure your account, we recommend enabling Multi-Device just long enough to set up a secondary backup device, and then immediately disabling it. Disabling Multi-Device prevents unauthorized new devices from being added while allowing all of your existing, already-linked devices to maintain full access.

⚠️ Critical Requirement: You can only enable or disable the Multi-Device setting if you currently have access to an existing, fully operational device already registered to your Authy account. If you do not have an active device, you will not be able to modify this setting.

Perform an account recovery

If the Multi-Device feature is disabled and you no longer have access to an active, trusted device on your Authy account, you must initiate an Account Recovery to regain access.

⚠️ Important Considerations:

24-Hour Wait Time: Due to strict security protocols, the recovery process takes exactly 24 hours and cannot be accelerated or bypassed by support.

Token Loss Risk: An account recovery doesn't reset your backups password if you have forgotten it, nor recover tokens that were not backed up with Backups Password. Please check the document in What is a Backup Password? Can it be recovered? for more information.