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Grampire Feb 25, 2024 @ 8:24am
Alternate Authentication App?
Curious - can you use an alternative authentication app than the Steam Mobile App for Steam Guard? I'd like to remove the Steam app from my phone and use one of the other authentication apps instead (Google, Microsoft, etc.).

Thanks in advance for replies!
Last edited by Grampire; Feb 25, 2024 @ 8:25am
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Originally posted by Kargor:
Well, you could use another app, if one existed. I don't think anyone has done one?

Steam is not using a "standard" like implemented by the usual auth apps. On the positive side, it also lets them do cool things, like the QR-based login.
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Kargor Feb 25, 2024 @ 8:27am 
Well, you could use another app, if one existed. I don't think anyone has done one?

Steam is not using a "standard" like implemented by the usual auth apps. On the positive side, it also lets them do cool things, like the QR-based login.
#1
Grampire Feb 25, 2024 @ 8:29am 
^Thanks, that answers my question. I spent about 15 minutes trying to get an answer and didn't see anything - just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something.

If Steam Guard isn't a standard authentication process then it makes sense that the app is proprietary to that process. Guess it stays!
#2
Satoru Feb 25, 2024 @ 8:32am 
WinAuth used to wrok but has been broken for awhile. Also note that everyone who used WinAuth did so by breaking every single security convention possible. Why? because those were inconvenient for them. People using 3rd party apps were by and large more vulnerable due to their ability to circumvent security measures
#3
Kargor Feb 25, 2024 @ 8:53am 
Originally posted by Satoru:
People using 3rd party apps were by and large more vulnerable due to their ability to circumvent security measures

They are not. If Steam wants authentication, the app has to provide it. Same for any 3rd party software. They can't just say "sorry, can't do that" and Steam would be like "oh fine, then I just don't need authentication". There's no way to circumvent anything.

There's probably a codebase for the authentication somewhere --- I doubt the trade bots are trade turks. However, that's NOT circumventing -- that's automation.
#4
Wolfpig Feb 25, 2024 @ 9:02am 
Originally posted by Kargor:
Steam is not using a "standard" like implemented by the usual auth apps. On the positive side, it also lets them do cool things, like the QR-based login.

A QR Code would work on other apps too if they implement it.....but your "positiv" side would mean that those apps would need a constant internet connection, as most 2fa apps which use the standard method can be used offline, and dont force the user to have the auth app to be online too.
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Date Posted: Feb 25, 2024 @ 8:24am
Posts: 5
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