Unable to scan QR code ("integrated authenticator" / BW password manager)

2 posts were merged into an existing topic: 2FAS Verification Code isn’t working

Same issue here (Motorola G84) - both Bitwarden Password Manager + Authenticator apps on Android fail to recognise 2FA QR codes at all.

All other authenticator apps I currently have installed on the phone have no problems recognising 2FA QR codes. The native camera app also picks up 2FA QR codes immediately.

I have tried reinstalling both Bitwarden apps multiple times (including from the Google Play store and F-Droid versions), but no cigar.

I was looking to migrate my family and staff to Bitwarden (22 users), but this is a deal-breaker :prohibited:

Looks like this Git has just been closed. I don’t have Git account so not sure how to raise this issue with the devs.

This may not need to be a deal-breaker (just an inconvenience).

Often times, the page that displays the QR code also shows the secret itself, which can be copy/pasted directly. I have done it this way for about 50 TOTP secrets.

In the few cases where one has not choice but to scan the QR code, perhaps use the native camera app and then copy/paste the URL into the TOTP secret field.

As stated in the other thread.. I’m not interested in workarounds for something that should just work. No other authenticator or QR scanner has issues recognising QR codes. This problem has been raised so many times with Bitwarden and outstanding for years now from what I have been reading. Bitwarden seemingly can’t or has no interest in fixing the issue. Quite pathetic, really.

Tbh, reading all the other issues and then that BW is toying with raising prices for a sub-par product, I’m giving Bitwarden a miss and taking my business elsewhere.

Sidenote: I added the targeted BW apps to the title of this thread and the equivalent thread for the authenticator app – and added short staff notices. Hopefully this makes the threads more distinguishable.

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I’m a bit confused about the situation. Even though I have an active BW Premium subscription, I’m unable to use the built-in authenticator to scan basic QR codes. This is happening on common devices like Google Pixel and Samsung phones. If there is any way to access the integrated authenticator at no cost, please clarify.

@user329 Since your post is clearly referencing the “integrated authenticator”, I moved your post into the relevant thread for that.

(and for context: your post was a response to this other post: Unable to scan QR codes (BW authenticator app) - #26 by DenBesten)

… and as far as I know: no, the functionality of the integrated authenticator (!) is not available for “free”.

But there is a dedicated “standalone” authenticator app, which is available (and usable) for free.

Given that all problems reports indicating an operating system are android based (pixel, galaxy, etc.) and that I have a positive experience on iOS, I added the “os:android” tag to this conversation.

If you have a counter-example, please do post so that one of us mods can again update.

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@PennilessConsent When I try it with the BW mobile app on that test QR code (Check your 2FAS app - scan the QR code or rewrite the Secret Words) I also could instantly scan that code and add it to a test login item.

(BW mobile app 2025.12.0, Android 15, Fairphone 5)

PS: I just tried to also scan that test QR code with the BW browser extension 2025.11.1 – and interestingly that fails for me. (Vivaldi browser, Win 11) – Update: it works on Chrome browser, so that might be a Vivaldi-related bug in my case.

Same problem. BW version 2025.10.1 (20867) and Phone is Pixel 10 Pro

On my phone, I screenshot the Google Authenticator QR code → Emailed it to myself → Opened the screenshot on my PC and tried to scan the code using the Set up Authenticator Key option on the PW record in BW that I want to link the authenticator to. Says Can’t Scan the Code.

@britdog I just moved your post over to this thread, as you seem to reference the “integrated authenticator” (and not the BW authenticator app).

And what “Google Authenticator QR code”? There’s only an “export” function – but that doesn’t re-produce the original QR code. – As far as I know, those Google Authenticator export QR codes can (regarding Bitwarden) only be imported by the BW authenticator app (and from there you could transfer them into your BW vault via the sync function).

PS:

Yeah… that’s the expected result here, as the “integrated authenticator” can’t make use of those “Google-Authenticator-export-QR-codes”.

I raised that Github and let it close because for me the app has been working fine since a later release.