When you enable two-factor authentication, the provider hands you a block of backup codes once and then hides them forever. Screenshotting that cluttered setup screen into your photo library is exactly the wrong place to keep them. This formatter turns the raw codes into a clean, numbered, printable sheet you can store offline and tick off as you go.
How it works
Paste the codes and the tool splits the text on spaces, line breaks and commas, then keeps any token that looks like a real code (letters, digits and dashes). Duplicates are removed while the original order is kept, so a sloppy copy and paste still produces a tidy list.
It then renders a print-optimised grid. Each cell shows:
- a checkbox to mark the code used,
- a sequence number,
- the code itself in a monospace font with letter spacing for easy reading.
You add the service name and pick the number of columns, and the print button opens your browser’s native print dialog with everything else on the page hidden.
Why offline beats a screenshot
A screenshot lives in your photo library, which often syncs to the cloud and is readable by any app with photo permission. A printed sheet kept in a drawer or safe is out of reach of malware and account compromise, which is the whole point of a recovery mechanism that has to survive losing your phone.
Tips
- Generate and print a fresh set whenever you have used several codes, since most are single-use.
- Store the sheet physically separate from your primary login device.
- Label it clearly with the service name and date so you can find the right sheet quickly under pressure.
- Treat the codes like cash. Anyone holding them can bypass your second factor. All formatting happens locally, so the codes never leave your browser.