Title: [Plugin: Google Authenticator] Scanning barcode doesn't work Last modified: August 20, 2016 --- # [Plugin: Google Authenticator] Scanning barcode doesn't work * Resolved [Rob Roy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/danetidwell/) * (@danetidwell) * [13 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-google-authenticator-scanning-barcode-doesnt-work/) * The barcode ‘otpauth://totp/MerwellEngine?secret=FAKESECRETKEY’ is not a valid authentication token barcode. * Try Again * [http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/google-authenticator/](http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/google-authenticator/) Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 18 total) 1 [2](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-google-authenticator-scanning-barcode-doesnt-work/page/2/?output_format=md) [→](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-google-authenticator-scanning-barcode-doesnt-work/page/2/?output_format=md) * [Henrik Schack](https://wordpress.org/support/users/henrikschack/) * (@henrikschack) * [13 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-google-authenticator-scanning-barcode-doesnt-work/#post-2920546) * What are you talking about ? * Thread Starter [Rob Roy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/danetidwell/) * (@danetidwell) * [13 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-google-authenticator-scanning-barcode-doesnt-work/#post-2920605) * In the wordpress backend, the barcode generated to configure authenticator doesn’t work. Scanning it give the error above * [Henrik Schack](https://wordpress.org/support/users/henrikschack/) * (@henrikschack) * [13 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-google-authenticator-scanning-barcode-doesnt-work/#post-2920644) * Thats strange, are you using an iPhone ? I known iPhones dont like descriptions containing spaces. * Best regards Henrik Schack * Thread Starter [Rob Roy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/danetidwell/) * (@danetidwell) * [13 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-google-authenticator-scanning-barcode-doesnt-work/#post-2920645) * Yeah, I’m scanning the barcode with an iPhone. * [Henrik Schack](https://wordpress.org/support/users/henrikschack/) * (@henrikschack) * [13 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-google-authenticator-scanning-barcode-doesnt-work/#post-2920646) * Hmm something in the description must upset your iPhone, not sure what it is, I use Android myself. * You could enter the secret manually ? * Best regards Henrik Schack * [Henrik Schack](https://wordpress.org/support/users/henrikschack/) * (@henrikschack) * [13 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-google-authenticator-scanning-barcode-doesnt-work/#post-2920659) * Hi Did you manage to get it working ? * Best regards Henrik Schack * [Henrik Schack](https://wordpress.org/support/users/henrikschack/) * (@henrikschack) * [13 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-google-authenticator-scanning-barcode-doesnt-work/#post-2920703) * No response, closing issue * [semperfideles](https://wordpress.org/support/users/semperfideles/) * (@semperfideles) * [13 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-google-authenticator-scanning-barcode-doesnt-work/#post-2920708) * I’m having this issue as well. When I try to scan the barcode it says “Invalid Barcode…not a valid authentication token barcode. * I am using an iPhone and I’ve set up multiple other apps with Google Authenticator. * [semperfideles](https://wordpress.org/support/users/semperfideles/) * (@semperfideles) * [13 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-google-authenticator-scanning-barcode-doesnt-work/#post-2920709) * I figured it out. If there is a space in the Name of the Site (i.e. My Blog) then it fails but if you type without space (i.e. MyBlog) then the code goes through. * [Henrik Schack](https://wordpress.org/support/users/henrikschack/) * (@henrikschack) * [13 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-google-authenticator-scanning-barcode-doesnt-work/#post-2920710) * Yes, it is mentioned in the FAQ, would be nice if the Android and iPhone app would agree on what’s possible 🙂 * [http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/google-authenticator/faq/](http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/google-authenticator/faq/) * Best regards Henrik Schack * [semperfideles](https://wordpress.org/support/users/semperfideles/) * (@semperfideles) * [13 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-google-authenticator-scanning-barcode-doesnt-work/#post-2920712) * One of the ways you can avoid users reporting this is that your plugin actually creates a default site name that has a space in it. If you remove the space in your code then you won’t have lazy people like me who don’t notice the FAQ. Also, you could put some instructions next to the field entry that instructs the user to use no spaces. * Just a friendly suggestion. Great plugin. * [Henrik Schack](https://wordpress.org/support/users/henrikschack/) * (@henrikschack) * [13 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-google-authenticator-scanning-barcode-doesnt-work/#post-2920713) * I think I’ll follow your suggestion and change the default 🙂 Thanks * Best regards Henrik Schack * Thread Starter [Rob Roy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/danetidwell/) * (@danetidwell) * [13 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-google-authenticator-scanning-barcode-doesnt-work/#post-2920741) * Is that entry field available to all users or just the Administrator? * [Henrik Schack](https://wordpress.org/support/users/henrikschack/) * (@henrikschack) * [13 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-google-authenticator-scanning-barcode-doesnt-work/#post-2920742) * It’ available to all users, unless disabled by an administrator. * Best regards Henrik Schack * [Sean Donovan](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mrsdonovan/) * (@mrsdonovan) * [13 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-google-authenticator-scanning-barcode-doesnt-work/#post-2920757) * Where do you change the default “Name of Site” for the GA plugin? I would say this is a critical bug and agree strongly with [@semperfideles](https://wordpress.org/support/users/semperfideles/). Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 18 total) 1 [2](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-google-authenticator-scanning-barcode-doesnt-work/page/2/?output_format=md) [→](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-google-authenticator-scanning-barcode-doesnt-work/page/2/?output_format=md) The topic ‘[Plugin: Google Authenticator] Scanning barcode doesn't work’ is closed to new replies. * ![](https://ps.w.org/google-authenticator/assets/icon-256x256.png?rev=3500822) * [Google Authenticator](https://wordpress.org/plugins/google-authenticator/) * [Frequently Asked Questions](https://wordpress.org/plugins/google-authenticator/#faq) * [Support Threads](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/google-authenticator/) * [Active Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/google-authenticator/active/) * [Unresolved Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/google-authenticator/unresolved/) * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/google-authenticator/reviews/) * 18 replies * 4 participants * Last reply from: [semperfideles](https://wordpress.org/support/users/semperfideles/) * Last activity: [13 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-google-authenticator-scanning-barcode-doesnt-work/page/2/#post-2920760) * Status: resolved