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Setting up one-time password (OTP) multi-factor authentication

Prerequisite

You should have an authenticator app (like Google Authenticator, Authy, or Authenticator Plus) which supports time-based one-time password (TOTP) to scan the QR code and generate an access code. SMS-based authentication or recovery is not supported.

Enabling OTP multi-factor authentication

  1. Login to rubygems.org using your existing account and go to the edit settings page. Click register a new device in the “Multi-factor Authentication” section. Multi-factor authentication section on the edit settings page
  2. You will be redirected to a page with a QR code and a text box for verifying OTP code. Please use your authenticator to scan the QR code. A new account for rubygems.org will be added to your authenticator app as soon as the scan completes. You can also add a new account manually using “Account” and “Key” shown next to the QR code. Please make sure you choose the option “time based” as MFA type. On successful registration, you will see a 6-digit access code (30 seconds expiry) in your authenticator app for your rubygems.org account. Enter the shown access code in the “OTP Code” text field and click Enable. Registering a new device
  3. If the code is correct and the QR code has not expired, on next page you will see a list of recovery codes. Please copy and store these codes in a safe place. You can use these recovery codes to access your account, should you ever lose your phone or accidentally delete the rubygems.org account from your authenticator app. Note that each recovery code can be used only once. Please reregister your authenticator app after using recovery code to login to rubygems.org (see Using recovery codes and re-setup a previously enabled MFA). Recovery codes
  4. Sign out and sign in again. Signing in will now ask for an OTP code. OTP prompt at login page

Note: The Google Authenticator app only allows an MFA account to be installed on one device and there is no backup or cloud sync of the data. So if you lose or upgrade your phone, you’ll have to set up MFA again on the new phone. On the other hand, the Authy and Authenticator Plus apps allow you to use multiple devices by providing cloud backups and cross-device sync capabilities.