OTP Authenticators: Using an Authenticator App for Zoho MFA

OTP Authenticators: Using an Authenticator App for Zoho MFA

OTP authenticators are mobile apps used to set up MFA for your account, generating a one-time password that changes every few seconds. Once set up, you enter the app's current OTP whenever you sign in. Authy, Microsoft Authenticator, and Google Authenticator are all commonly used, and Zoho's own OneAuth also works as one, with extra Zoho-specific features on top.

Setting Up an OTP Authenticator

Once you've installed an authenticator app, you register it with Zoho by scanning a QR code or manually entering a secret.

  1. Go to accounts.zoho.com and click Multi-Factor Authentication in the left menu.
  2. Click Set up Now under OTP Authenticator. A QR code and secret are shown.
  3. Scan the QR code with your authenticator app, or enter the secret manually. Your app will then generate an OTP.
  4. Click Next.
  5. Enter the OTP generated on your app into the field in Accounts, then click Verify.
Generate backup codes straight away. Once you've configured an MFA mode, generate backup verification codes immediately. They're what let you back into your account if you lose access to your phone.

Setting It as Your Primary MFA Mode

If you've configured more than one MFA mode, one becomes your default at sign-in.

  1. Sign in at accounts.zoho.com and click Multi-Factor Authentication.
  2. Click Make Primary next to OTP Authenticator.
  3. Click Confirm.

Signing In

If OTP Authenticator is your primary mode: enter your email and password as usual, open your authenticator app, go to the OTP for your Zoho account, and enter it when prompted, then click Verify.

Mail clients can get an "incorrect password" error. A mail client that doesn't support MFA will fail to sign in once MFA is enabled, usually showing an incorrect password error even though the password is right. Use an application-specific password to bypass MFA for that client instead.

If Your Authenticator Isn't Accessible

Recover your account using your previously generated backup verification codes, then reconfigure your OTP authenticator or set up a different MFA mode. See recovering your account with a backup verification code.

No Backup Codes Either?

  1. Contact Zoho support at support@zohoaccounts.com to verify your identity.
  2. You'll be given a one-time backup code to sign in with.
  3. Once in, reconfigure MFA and generate a fresh set of backup codes so you're covered next time.

Reconfiguring Your Authenticator

  1. Go to accounts.zoho.com and click Multi-Factor Authentication.
  2. Click Change Configuration under OTP Authenticator.
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions and enter the newly generated OTP to verify.
Need help? 1 Cloud Consultants can help you set up an OTP authenticator for your Zoho account and resolve mail client sign-in issues caused by MFA. Book a discovery call with 1 Cloud Consultants.