# Generating 2FA backup codes not available after adding an Authenticator
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/generating-2fa-backup-codes-not-available-after-adding-an-authenticator/331943
**Category:** Bug
**Tags:** 2fa
**Created:** [October 21, 2024, 5:31pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/generating-2fa-backup-codes-not-available-after-adding-an-authenticator/331943 "2024-10-21T17:31:31Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@sebix1](https://meta.discourse.org/u/sebix1)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2024, 5:31pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/generating-2fa-backup-codes-not-available-after-adding-an-authenticator/331943/1 "2024-10-21T17:31:31Z")
After adding a 2FA authenticator, the second-factor page shows correctly the added authenticator.
The _Two-Factor Backup Codes_ sections only says:
> You must enable a primary two-factor method before generating backup codes.
It’s necessary to leave the profile page and enter it again (or reload the page) to see the “Add backup codes” button.
Unfortunately, I can’t upload a screenshot here as the software always says “Sorry, but your upload failed. Please try again.” (the POST request to `https://meta.discourse.org/uploads/complete-multipart.json` returns a 422 with also just this text as JSON’ed body). But the content of the screenshot isn’t very enlightening anyway.
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### Author:  [@pmusaraj](https://meta.discourse.org/u/pmusaraj)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2024, 7:15pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/generating-2fa-backup-codes-not-available-after-adding-an-authenticator/331943/2 "2024-10-21T19:15:25Z")
Yes, I can confirm that I have seen this as well, we should refresh the view after adding the 2FA authenticator so that backup codes can be created right away.
Thanks for the report!
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### Author:  [@stromfeldt](https://meta.discourse.org/u/stromfeldt)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2025, 12:12am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/generating-2fa-backup-codes-not-available-after-adding-an-authenticator/331943/3 "2025-10-07T00:12:08Z")
I was about to file a bug report as I just went through three attempts (of enabling and disabling 2FA) on two different browsers trying to generate backup codes, but fortunately did a search first. Anyway, as it’s been more than a year and this hasn’t been addressed, and supposing it may have fallen through the cracks, I figured I’d mention that this issue still exists.
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### Author:  [@keegan](https://meta.discourse.org/u/keegan)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2025, 8:02pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/generating-2fa-backup-codes-not-available-after-adding-an-authenticator/331943/6 "2025-10-08T20:02:47Z")
Just pushed a fix, this should now be resolved! 🎉
[https://github.com/discourse/discourse/pull/35287](https://github.com/discourse/discourse/pull/35287)
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### Author:  [@sebix1](https://meta.discourse.org/u/sebix1)
#### Post date: [October 9, 2025, 8:41am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/generating-2fa-backup-codes-not-available-after-adding-an-authenticator/331943/8 "2025-10-09T08:41:37Z")
Great, thank you @keegan
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### Author:  [@keegan](https://meta.discourse.org/u/keegan)
#### Post date: [October 11, 2025, 3:00pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/generating-2fa-backup-codes-not-available-after-adding-an-authenticator/331943/9 "2025-10-11T15:00:19Z")
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