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Novaz AuthenticatorGET

N-able 2FA: how to set up an authenticator app for N-able Login

By the Novaz team · Updated October 29, 2026
Novaz steps checked against version 1.0.5

On this page
  1. Where the setup starts
  2. Turn on 2FA with an authenticator app
  3. One recovery code, so keep it
  4. When N-able asks for a code
  5. If N-able rejects your code
  6. New phone or lost phone
  7. If you've lost the recovery code too
  8. Official N-able help

N-able Login is the shared sign-in, at sso.navigatorlogin.com, for N-sight RMM, Take Control, MSP Manager, Cove Data Protection and the N-ableMe portal (N-able, N-able). Two-factor authentication (2FA) on it isn't optional: N-able calls it mandatory and says it can't be disabled (N-able). N-sight RMM and Take Control require it for every user (N-able, N-able). The second step is an authenticator app code. This guide uses Authenticator App - Novaz on iPhone, but any authenticator app works the same way.

N-central's local accounts have a separate 2FA setting, and if your company signs in through an identity provider such as Microsoft Entra ID, that provider handles MFA (N-able). This guide covers N-able Login.

How we checked this guide: the N-able steps come from N-able's own product documentation, including its screenshots, linked below, which we read on October 20, 2026. We haven't tested them on an N-able account. N-able describes the same sign-in in several product guides with slightly different wording, so a label may differ. The Novaz steps are checked against the app, version 1.0.5.

Where the setup starts

There's no setting to hunt for. N-able Login asks you to set up 2FA at your first sign-in.

  • N-sight RMM shows Activate Two Factor Authentication with a Start Activation button. If you're already signed in, select your name in the Product Bar, then Enable 2FA (N-able).
  • New N-central users reach the same screens after selecting Set up your account in N-able's welcome email (N-able).
  • Cove's Backup Console has the option in the menu under your username, top right (N-able).

Turn on 2FA with an authenticator app

The 2FA SETUP window has three numbered steps, then your recovery code (N-able, N-able):

  1. STEP 1 - INSTALL AN AUTHENTICATOR suggests a few apps. You aren't limited to them: any app that makes time-based codes (TOTP) works (N-able). Select NEXT.
  2. STEP 2 - QR CODE shows the code. In Novaz, tap +, then Scan QR code. If the QR code is on the same iPhone, take a screenshot, tap +, then Choose a photo. See scanning a QR code on the same iPhone.
  3. If you can't scan, the key sits under Or manually enter this code, and Copy security key copies it. In Novaz, tap +, then Enter key manually, enter N-able as the Service and paste the key as the Setup key. N-able's codes are 6 digits and change every 30 seconds, which is what a typed key produces (N-able). See What is a 2FA setup key?
  4. Under STEP 3 - CONFIRM SETUP, type the current Novaz code into Enter your 6-digit code and select CONFIRM SETUP.
  5. The YOUR RECOVERY CODE screen appears. Select Copy recovery code or DOWNLOAD CODE, which saves a .txt file, then Complete setup. N-central's guide shows CONTINUE here instead.

N-sight RMM also emails a link to confirm the setup, valid for 2 hours (N-able).

One recovery code, so keep it

N-able Login gives you a single recovery code, and the setup screen says you'll need it to deactivate 2FA (N-able). Without it, only an administrator can reset you (N-able). Without a Novaz backup, its keys exist only on your iPhone, so that code is your way back in, and it still helps if your backup is out of date. Store it in a password manager or on paper, away from the phone. See 2FA backup codes.

One N-ableMe page describes ten single-use backup codes instead (N-able), but the N-able Login screenshots in the N-sight, N-central and Cove guides show one recovery code. Save whatever your screen gives you.

When N-able asks for a code

Every sign-in: your username or email, NEXT, your password, NEXT, then the 6-digit code and NEXT (N-able, N-able). In N-sight RMM you aren't asked again when you start a remote session (N-able).

In Cove, a login with 2FA on can't be used for the legacy Cloud Management Console, API services or storage nodes, so N-able suggests a separate SuperUser for storage nodes (N-able).

If N-able rejects your code

N-able's troubleshooting page covers the usual causes (N-able):

  • Clock drift. On iPhone, open Settings > General > Date & Time and turn on Set Automatically. Novaz also warns you when the clock is 15 seconds or more off.
  • A code about to expire. Wait for a fresh one rather than typing it in the last seconds.
  • The wrong entry. If you have more than one N-able account, check the account name in Novaz before you copy the code.

More in Authenticator code not working?

New phone or lost phone

N-able doesn't document a way to switch phones from your settings. For a new phone, a reinstalled app or a lost one, you use the recovery code (N-able):

  1. Sign in with your username and password.
  2. At the code prompt, select Reset your two-factor authentication?.
  3. On 2FA RECOVERY, enter your Recovery code and select DISABLE 2FA.
  4. N-able makes you set up 2FA again before you can continue. Scan the new QR code with Novaz and save the new recovery code.

With Novaz's iCloud backup or a backup file, you can restore your accounts on a new iPhone and skip the reset. Without one, a new iPhone means this reset. See How to transfer your authenticator app to a new iPhone.

If you've lost the recovery code too

An administrator has to reset you:

  • N-sight RMM: a Superuser or the Agent Key user opens Settings > Users > User Accounts, right-clicks your name, chooses Two Factor Authentication > Reset 2FA, confirms with Reset 2FA and selects Save. You set up 2FA at your next sign-in. If they can't reset it, N-able Support can (N-able).
  • N-ableMe: an Owner or Admin goes to My Account > Manage Users, selects Edit next to your account, then Reset MFA (N-able).

N-able doesn't say what proof Support asks for or how long a reset takes. See Lost the phone with your authenticator app?

Official N-able help

More guides: Cloud storage and backup