Authenticator App - Novaz

The Ohio State University 2FA Setup Guide

osu.edu Supported

Protect your The Ohio State University account with two-factor authentication (2FA). Once enabled, signing in also requires a one-time code from your authenticator app — not just your password.

A The Ohio State University account holds coursework, records, and personal data worth protecting with 2FA. Besides an authenticator app, The Ohio State University also offers SMS text codes, security keys, a hardware token and a proprietary app. An authenticator app (TOTP) is usually the best balance of security and convenience — and it's safer than SMS codes, which can be intercepted through SIM-swap attacks. For the strongest protection, The Ohio State University also supports hardware security keys.

2FA methods The Ohio State University supports

  • SMS text message
  • Authenticator app (TOTP)
  • Security key (U2F / WebAuthn)
  • Hardware token
  • Proprietary app
  1. 1

    Download Authenticator App - Novaz

    Install Authenticator App - Novaz from the App Store on your iPhone or iPad and open it — you'll use it to scan The Ohio State University's QR code and generate your 6-digit sign-in codes.

    Download on the App Store
  2. 2

    Sign in to The Ohio State University and open your The Ohio State University account security settings.

  3. 3

    Turn on two-factor authentication and choose the authenticator-app option.

    Look for "Authenticator app", "Authentication app", or "TOTP" rather than SMS.

  4. 4

    Scan the QR code with Authenticator App - Novaz.

    Open Authenticator App - Novaz, tap add, and point your camera at the QR code The Ohio State University displays. Can't scan? Enter the setup key manually instead.

  5. 5

    Enter the 6-digit code to confirm.

    Type the code Authenticator App - Novaz generates to verify and link your The Ohio State University account.

  6. 6

    Save a way to recover your account.

    If The Ohio State University shows backup or recovery codes, store them somewhere safe, away from your phone. If it doesn't, check how The Ohio State University recovers accounts (support, an admin, or another sign-in method) before you need it.

Menu names on The Ohio State University can change — the official The Ohio State University 2FA documentation ↗ always has the exact, current path.

How to recover your The Ohio State University account

If you lose access to your authenticator and The Ohio State University gave you backup or recovery codes when you turned on 2FA, sign in with one of them; keep them somewhere safe, away from your phone. Not every service issues codes. If The Ohio State University doesn't, or you didn't save them, use The Ohio State University's account-recovery or support process (or ask your admin, for a work account) to get back in.

Frequently asked questions

Does The Ohio State University work with authenticator apps like Authenticator App - Novaz?
Yes. The Ohio State University supports TOTP authenticator apps, so you can generate its two-factor codes in Authenticator App - Novaz.
Is The Ohio State University two-factor authentication free?
Yes. Enabling authenticator-app 2FA on The Ohio State University is free — you only need the free Authenticator App - Novaz.
What if I lose access to my The Ohio State University 2FA codes?
If The Ohio State University gave you backup or recovery codes during setup, sign in with one of them. If it didn't, or you didn't save them, use The Ohio State University's account recovery or contact its support (or your admin, for a work account), then add the account to Authenticator App - Novaz again.
Should I use an authenticator app or a security key on The Ohio State University?
The Ohio State University supports both. An authenticator app like Authenticator App - Novaz is free and works on any phone; a hardware security key adds phishing resistance. You can enable both.

Generate your The Ohio State University codes in Authenticator App - Novaz

Free, offline, and encrypted. One tap for every 6-digit code.

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