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How do I enable TOTP 2-factor authentication for use with 3rd party app (e.g. Google authenticator)

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
November 14, 2022
8 replies
11141 views

I want to enable 2-factor authentication on my Adobe account but using TOTP that is supported by many 3rd party apps (Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, password managers, etc.). I use my password manager to manage all of my TOTP 2-factor authentication. I do not want to have to use and manage the Adobe Account Access app for just this one single account. I see several references of this being supported for the Adobe account:

https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/x-productkb/global/2-step-verification-account-security.html

https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/2-step-verification-account-security.html#another-method

but my account settings page is missing the option to enable this type of 2-factor authentication. I only have the options for the Adobe Account Access app, email, and SMS/phone text. How do I enable 2-factor authentication for use with 3rd party TOTP apps?

Account management

J

Jkarst

Participant

This is really dumb... No one wants to install your stupid, bloated authenticator app that can be used only for Adobe accounts and that sends God-knows-what information back to Adobe's servers. Please re-enable access to the industry standard TOTP option. When a perfectly secure, industry standard option is available, yet you decide to roll your own implementation, despite not specializing in security and having a very long history of major security vulnerabilities and breaches, it just screams of some dumb mandate dictated by someone at the top that has no clue about security or best practices.

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MrMase

Participant

Removing consumer choice over TOTP was a really stupid move on Adobe's part, as another Bitwarden user I was migrating my TOTP tokens and found the option disappear on me.

The only possible good thing they have done is implement support for Passkeys which Bitwarden supports but to use either that or Adobe's own app because Adobe is infuriating.

D

DU-FUTUR

Participant

I also use Bitwarden and I am extremely frustrated that I cannot get the TOTP code for 2FA, the fact that Adobe forces us to use their application or by SMS or email irritates me to the point.

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SSaintmarie

Participant

Just adding further onto this. It's 2024 and we're being forced to adopt security apps by companies that do not specialize in security. I host my own Bitwarden server and use it to store all my passwords and OTP and this is a massive annoyance. There's zero reasoning to it as well. Imagine if every company chose to do this.. we'd have hundreds of apps on our phones.

C

Chien31308325mz6b

Participant

Well, this is 2023 and Adobe uses their own 2FA app. My 32GB iPhone doesn’t like that.

kglad

Community Expert

my iphone has no problem with adobe's 2fa.

R

RokeJulianLockhart

Participating Frequently

They're making the point that on a phone with little storage, the more saved, the better.

Remember to tag me when responding to me in case I'm not subscribed to the thread.

A

AM_Dave

Inspiring

This thread is a little older but still an issue. I just got a new phone. I was using a 3rd-party Authenticator with my Adobe CC account then. When I went into security, I saw no way to update or change it, so I thought it might be hidden behind the on/off toggle. So I toggled "off", then the whole 3rd-party row in that section vanished. It left only the Adobe Auth app as the option. Not cool, Adobe. Please turn the option to use 3rd-party authentication apps back on. You can do it. We know you can.

kglad

Community Expert

you were using a different (from adobe's) authenticator on your previous phone?

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RokeJulianLockhart

Participating Frequently

https://community.adobe.com/t5/creative-cloud-desktop-ideas/third-party-authenticator-apps/idc-p/14357562#M987 elaborates.

Remember to tag me when responding to me in case I'm not subscribed to the thread.

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Michael27748411un2m

Participant

I have totp 2 factor on my account at the moment. Out of curiosity I set up a dummy account and noticed the totp option is missing from security preferences. Given the documents you referenced it appears to be a feature Adobe is trying to phase out - but I can't understand why! I haven't had any notification towelling me to use SMS or Adobe Access and hope this doesn't change anytime soon, if ever!

as already posted by others, feeding back direct to Adobe might be the only way to get this issue even close to being addressed. Best of luck.

kglad

Community Expert

@Michael27748411un2m

i'm aware of no change to 2fa but a number of people have complained about needing to use another authenticator.

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Michael27748411un2m

Participant

I added totp to my Adobe account in September 2018 and this is a screen shot of my account settings. Verify with SMS is offscreen and further down. On other accounts I believe there are only the options to use Adobe access, email or sms.

on one hand you are correct, I have experienced no change in my login experience regarding 2FA however it is clear something did change in regards to accounts that hadn't set up totp before a certain date.

LinSims

Community Expert

As far as I know, you can't. It's a bloody nuisance, but the only 2FA that works with Adobe is Adobe's.

I've got something like 4 or 5 authenticator apps because everyone either uses one that's home grown or uses one of several available.

RojmaEAuthor

Participant

That is just ridiculous. I have 732 items in my password manager. Let's say that only half of those are actual passwords for sites (its more than that), and let's say that a quarter of those support 2-factor authentication (again it's more than that), then that would be I would need 183 apps to authenticate to each site. That is just plain ridiculous and unsustainable. Adobe should be using industry standards, like the other major tech companies do, instead of creating their own app. This is such a nuicance. Even worse, they refer to the ability to be able to use such apps in the above two links I referenced, but then don't give you the ability to actually enable it.

kglad

Community Expert

@RojmaE, i think we all agree.

but these are user-to-user forums. make your feelings known to adobe.

for applicable apps, use https://helpx.adobe.com/ie/x-productkb/global/how-to-user-voice.html

for others, use https://www.adobe.com/products/wishform.html

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