Open Google Authenticator App

Question

I found out that it is possible to create a new entry in the Google Authenticator App via a link.

Example: otpauth://totp/Example:[email protected]?secret=JBSWY3DPEHPK3PXP&issuer=Example

Is it possible to just open the Google Authenticator App on Android and iOS via a link from a website?

If you open the App with a link like this one otpauth://, you get an error.

There is a Scheme defined for link in the iOS and Android App

Microgroove

How are you linking to the custom URL scheme URI? Have you tried this: https://mcmap.net/q/646835/-how-to-open-url-schemes-from-safari-in-ios9 ? – Nissen

Not yet. The app opens, but I think it's expecting a link with content, not empty. – Microgroove

Yes, if you don't pass in the information in the URI, the app will have nothing to do. Are you saying you are trying to launch an empty URI: "otpauth://"? In order to add an entry, you have to provide the full URI with an account, secret and issuer. I am a bit confused as to what you are trying to accomplish. You just want to launch the app, not add an entry? – Nissen

@Nissen Didn't work. The App says Cannot interpret QR code. If you click ok, you can use the app. But i don't want this error. Yes, i just want to open the app. – Microgroove

Have you tried the other url scheme: "totp:\\"? – Nissen

Yeah. Same error. :( – Microgroove

In iOS apps, you write code to handle when your app is launched with those custom URL schemes. Google probably didn't anticipate people trying to use the custom scheme that way, so their code tries to do something with the URI itself, and when empty or invalid, they try to be helpful and provide an error message to tell the user that something is not right. I'm not too familiar with the Authenticator custom scheme, so maybe someone else has figured out how to do this without the error. – Nissen

Maybe someone else knows an answer. Thank you for your help. :) – Microgroove

Any update on this? I'd like to open the app with otpauth::// url scheme and have the same behavior just like if I would click the app icon. – Abby

No, there are no updates. – Microgroove