Twilio, the company behind the popular Authy two-factor authentication (2FA) app, has announced the discontinuation of Authy’s desktop apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux in August 2024. The decision is part of Twilio’s effort to streamline its focus and allocate resources to areas with higher demand. Authy is known for its ability to generate offline codes, cross-device syncing, encrypted cloud backups, and robust token encryption for enhanced security. Twilio recommends existing users switch to the mobile versions of the app available on iOS or Google Play, and it suggests alternative desktop apps like 1Password, KeepassXC, Authenticator, Step Two, and Secrets.
Users are encouraged to enable Authy’s backups feature to synchronize tokens from the desktop client with the mobile app. It’s important to note that the iOS app will still be available for download on M1/M2 Apple computers, ensuring compatibility for macOS users on Apple Silicon hardware. However, Authy lacks an export feature, so users switching to another 2FA app need to disable Authy on all platforms and set up 2FA again on the new app. Applications and platforms relying on Authy’s API for user authentication must inform their customers of the need to switch before the August 2024 discontinuation.
While providing alternatives, Twilio emphasizes caution during the transition process, as a single error could result in users being locked out of their accounts. Deleting tokens on Authy before disabling 2FA on accounts is discouraged, and users should follow manual process steps carefully to avoid potential access issues. The decision to discontinue Authy’s desktop apps aligns with Twilio’s restructuring efforts and strategic reallocation of resources.
