I recently had to wipe MS Authenticator off my phone. I lost the PLEX account, but figured, “No Problem, I’ll just add it back.” I’ve read the help pages, searched the forum and Google. No dice. There is no information available on how to get Plex to cough up a new QR code. Apparently, the QR only shows up when you activate 2FA and never again. So I disabled 2FA, and am not inclined to turn it back on, since I’m then dependent on one-time recovery codes to get in if I lose the magic connection with Authenticator. Did I miss something?
You can save your recovery codes either print them or save in email, cloud service etc. the Authenticator app also has a backup function. I’ve changed phones a few times and the restore feature saves having to set up all 2FA services again in the app.
That’s by design. The whole point of 2FA is that someone needs both factors to log in. If you can use the first factor (i.e. username and password) to gain access to the 2nd factor then it’d be a pointless system.
If I have to re-establish my authenticator app’s connection to my Plex account, where do I access the QR code to do so after the first time I activate 2FA?
As I stated, I was able to login using the rescue code—which is also, by definition, using 2FA. So I’m not using the first factor to access the second. I’m using an alternate second factor to regain my ability to use the authenticator app to generate the second factor in the future.
Is there a way to do this? Or must one disable and re-enable 2FA to get a new QR code and new rescue codes?
Other systems like Office365 allow users to re-access the QR code in order to re-connect authenticator apps.
Yes, I had my recovery codes saved. That was not an issue. And I tried the authenticator restore. It didn’t work, due to an iCloud error. But that’s a good suggestion if the authenticator backup exists.
I had the same issue. my phone got a corrupt samsung update. i had to wipe everything.
I have since disabled 2fa and everytime i try to enable it again. i scan the QR code and enter the code to it failing. tried both the google auth and the microsof auth with no luck
@swilson1965
Just a hint:
You can also save the secret key. If you activate 2FA the Website shows the QR code (this is your secret key which is used to create the pseudo-random 6-8 digit codes). But don’t scan the code! Click on the link “I can’t see the code” (or similar) instead. After this it shows you your username (I think Plex uses “yourusername@Plex” ) and your secret key.
Write these informations down and store it on a safe place!
If you want to use another 2FA app you can just enter your Username and Key informations and it continue to work.
This works with every service which is using these types of 2FA (TOTP).
Hope this helps! 
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