What Is an OTP Generator?
An OTP Generator creates one-time passwords — short codes that work only once and only for a short time. This tool makes TOTP codes (Time-based One-Time Passwords, RFC 6238), the kind used by Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator and Authy. When you turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) on a website, it shows you a secret key. That secret, combined with the current time, produces a new code every 30 seconds. The same secret in any authenticator app produces the same code at the same time, which is how the website can check it.
Use this tool when you are on a desktop and need the current code without reaching for your phone, or when you want to check that a secret you saved still produces the right codes. Paste the Base32 secret, match the digits, period and algorithm to your service, and the live code appears with a countdown to the next one.
How to Use the OTP Generator
- Paste the Base32 secret key your service gave you when you turned on two-factor authentication.
- Choose the digits (6 or 8), the period (30 or 60 seconds) and the algorithm (SHA-1, SHA-256 or SHA-512) that match your service.
- Read the live code and use it before the countdown ends — it refreshes automatically.
- To add the account to an authenticator app on your phone, scan the QR code or copy the setup link.
- To create a brand-new secret for testing, press Generate a new secret.
Key Features of Our OTP Generator
- Live TOTP codes that refresh automatically every 30 or 60 seconds
- 6-digit and 8-digit codes, SHA-1, SHA-256 and SHA-512 algorithms
- Generate a new secure random Base32 secret in one click
- QR code and otpauth:// setup link to add the account to any authenticator app
- One-click copy for the code, the secret and the setup link
- Uses the browser's Web Crypto (HMAC) — the same standard authenticator apps use
- Runs entirely in your browser — your secret is never uploaded, stored or logged
Benefits of Using an Online OTP Generator
Two-factor authentication stops most account takeovers, because a stolen password alone is not enough. But codes live on your phone, and your phone is not always in reach when you are working on a desktop. This tool closes that gap: paste the secret once and the current code is right there, refreshing on its own.
Your privacy comes first. The OTP Generator runs entirely in your web browser using Web Crypto. Nothing you enter is sent to our servers, which keeps your secret private and makes results appear instantly. The secret is forgotten as soon as you close or reload the tab. See our Privacy Policy for details.
Common Use Cases for the OTP Generator
- Getting a 2FA code on your desktop without reaching for your phone
- Checking that a saved backup secret still produces the right codes
- Setting up two-factor authentication and testing the secret before finishing
- Adding an account to a new authenticator app with the QR code
- Learning how TOTP works with a fresh test secret
- Generating codes for a service whose app you cannot install
Tips for Getting the Best Results
- Match all four settings — secret, digits, period and algorithm — to the service that gave you the secret. SHA-1 with 6 digits and 30 seconds is the default almost everywhere.
- If the code is rejected, check your device clock first. TOTP depends on correct time; a clock that is off by a minute breaks every code.
- Use the last few seconds of a code carefully — if the countdown is nearly over, wait for the next code instead.
- Keep your secret key in a password manager, not in a screenshot or a chat message.
- Never paste a real secret on a shared or public computer, and never send it to anyone who asks for it — no genuine support team ever needs your 2FA secret.
OTP Generator FAQ
What is an OTP?
An OTP, or one-time password, is a short code that works only once and only for a short time, usually 30 seconds. It is the second factor in two-factor authentication (2FA): even if someone knows your password, they still need the current code from your authenticator app.
What is TOTP?
TOTP stands for Time-based One-Time Password (RFC 6238). Your secret key and the current time are combined with HMAC to produce a new code every 30 or 60 seconds. The same secret in any authenticator app produces the same code at the same time.
Is it safe to paste my secret key here?
The code is generated entirely in your browser with Web Crypto — your secret is never sent to any server. Still, treat a secret key like a password: only use this tool on a device you trust, and never share a secret key with anyone.
Why does my code not match my authenticator app?
The usual causes are a wrong secret, the wrong number of digits (6 vs 8), the wrong period (30 vs 60 seconds), or a different algorithm (SHA-1 vs SHA-256 vs SHA-512). Match all four settings to the service that gave you the secret, and check that your device clock is correct.
Can I use this instead of Google Authenticator?
Yes, for viewing codes on a desktop. Paste the same Base32 secret your service gave you and you will see the same codes. For everyday use, an authenticator app on your phone is more convenient — use the QR code here to add the account to it.
Does this tool store my secret key?
No. The secret stays in the page on your device and is forgotten as soon as you close or reload the tab. Nothing is uploaded, saved or logged.