AnyDesk 2FA: how to set up an authenticator app
By the Novaz team · Updated October 29, 2026
Novaz steps checked against version 1.0.5
On this page
AnyDesk, the remote desktop software, works without an account, but a free account adds multifactor authentication (MFA) for your sign-ins (AnyDesk). That's one of two separate two-factor features. Both use codes from an authenticator app, and each gets its own entry in the app:
- Account MFA protects your AnyDesk account. You set it up in my.anydesk II, and it applies when you sign in there or in the AnyDesk app (AnyDesk).
- Two-Factor Authentication for Unattended Access protects a computer. You set it up in the AnyDesk app on that computer, and it applies to connections made while nobody is there (AnyDesk).
Both are optional, unless your company's custom AnyDesk client requires the second one. This guide uses Authenticator App - Novaz on iPhone, but any authenticator app works the same way.
How we checked this guide: the AnyDesk steps come from AnyDesk's own help center, linked below, which we read on October 20, 2026. We haven't tested them on an AnyDesk account, so a label may differ slightly. The Novaz steps are checked against the app, version 1.0.5.
Turn on MFA for your AnyDesk account
AnyDesk's steps for my.anydesk II (AnyDesk):
- Sign in to my.anydesk II at my.anydesk.com/v2 with your email address and password.
- Click your name in the upper-right corner and choose My profile.
- In the Multi-Factor Authentication section, click Edit.
- A QR code appears. In Novaz, tap +, then Scan QR code. If the page is open on the same iPhone, take a screenshot, tap +, then Choose a photo. See scanning a QR code on the same iPhone.
- Fill in Device Name so you can tell which phone this is.
- Type the current code from Novaz into Code from authenticator app.
- Click Enable MFA.
This page mentions only the QR code, not a text key or the code format, so scan it.
The older my.anydesk I portal, which AnyDesk plans to retire, has its own Two-factor authentication option under Settings > General (AnyDesk). Its password is separate from my.anydesk II (AnyDesk), so turn on MFA in the portal you use.
On an Ultimate (Cloud) license you sign in with your organization's single sign-on (SSO) (AnyDesk). The MFA page doesn't cover that, so ask your administrator.
Signing in with MFA
After your email address and password, AnyDesk asks for the one-time code from your authenticator app on the next screen (AnyDesk). AnyDesk's pages don't mention skipping the code on a trusted device.
Protect Unattended Access with 2FA
Unattended Access lets you connect to a computer with a password when nobody is there to accept. 2FA adds a code. On that computer (AnyDesk):
- Open AnyDesk, click the menu in the upper-right corner and choose Settings.
- Go to Access. In the Unattended Access section, select Enable Two-Factor Authentication.
- Scan the QR code: in Novaz, tap +, then Scan QR code. To use AnyDesk's key instead, tap +, then Enter key manually, and paste it as the Setup key. See What is a 2FA setup key?
- Enter the code from Novaz and click Enable authorization.
From then on, an Unattended Access connection to this computer asks for a 6-digit code right after the password, even when the password is filled in automatically. Whoever connects needs a code from the phone that scanned the QR code.
Clearing Enable for saved login information skips the code for clients with a saved login. Clearing Enable for short-term passwords (e.g., remote restart) skips it when a session reconnects by itself (AnyDesk).
A company's custom client can include Require 2FA for Unattended Access. Unattended Access then won't work until 2FA is set up, or after it's removed (AnyDesk).
No backup codes
None of the AnyDesk pages we read mention backup or recovery codes. Unless you've backed up Novaz (iCloud backup or a backup file), that phone is your only source of codes.
If AnyDesk rejects your code
For Unattended Access, AnyDesk says that if Enable authorization stays grayed out with the right code, the phone and the computer disagree on the time (AnyDesk). Check the computer's clock. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Date & Time and turn on Set Automatically. Novaz warns you when the clock is 15 seconds or more off. For account sign-in, AnyDesk gives no specific advice. More causes: Authenticator code not working?
Changing phones or turning MFA off
With Novaz's iCloud backup or a backup file, you can restore your accounts on the new iPhone and skip a fresh setup (moving to a new iPhone). Otherwise, while the old phone still works, go to My profile in my.anydesk II and click Edit under Multi-Factor Authentication. Click the close icon next to the old device, or Delete All, and confirm with Yes (AnyDesk). That turns MFA off. Then set it up again on the new phone.
For Unattended Access, AnyDesk documents turning 2FA on, not off or moving it. The setting is under Settings > Access on that computer, so handle it there before you retire the old phone.
If you lose your authenticator
AnyDesk doesn't document what to do after losing your authenticator, and its password reset page doesn't mention MFA (AnyDesk). That leaves AnyDesk Support, but ticket support comes only with Standard, Advanced and Ultimate licenses. Free and Solo users get the Help Center (AnyDesk).
With a license, file a ticket from Help & Contact in my.anydesk II, which needs a sign-in, or in the AnyDesk app under Settings > About AnyDesk > Send Support Information (AnyDesk). The contact page lists no proof of ownership for a lockout and gives no time frame. See also Lost the phone with your authenticator app?
