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.
The problem with how backup codes are usually stored
When a service generates backup codes, it usually presents them in a dense, unstyled block — sometimes 10 codes in a single column, sometimes a 2×5 grid, sometimes one long comma-separated line. Most people either screenshot the screen (which lands in a cloud-synced photo album) or copy them into a notes app (which may also sync to the cloud).
Both approaches undermine the purpose of backup codes. The codes are meant to be an emergency recovery mechanism that works even if your phone is stolen, your cloud account is compromised, or your authenticator app is wiped. Keeping them in a cloud-synced photo or note defeats that by storing them in the same threat surface as the account they protect.
A printed sheet stored in a physically secure location is out of reach of the attacks that would trigger you to use it in the first place.
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 — runs of letters, digits, and dashes. Duplicates are removed while the original order is preserved, 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 as used,
- a sequence number,
- the code itself in a monospace font with letter spacing for easy reading at a glance.
You add the service name (for labelling the sheet) and pick the number of columns. The print button opens your browser’s native print dialog with only the codes sheet visible — the rest of the page is hidden for clean printing.
Why print instead of screenshot
| Storage method | Risk |
|---|---|
| Cloud-synced photo album | Accessible to anyone with photo permission; syncs to all devices |
| Notes app | May sync to cloud; app permissions can be broad |
| Password manager notes | Better, but digital and dependent on password manager security |
| Printed sheet in secure location | Offline, not synced, inaccessible to malware |
The printed sheet is the only method that requires physical access to compromise.
Tips for safe storage
- Generate and print a fresh set whenever you have used several codes, since most are single-use.
- Store the sheet in a physically secure place: a locked drawer, a home safe, or with other important documents.
- Label it clearly with the service name and date so you can find the right sheet quickly under pressure — the middle of a lockout is a bad time to search through a pile of paper.
- Keep it separate from your primary login device; a sheet stored in your laptop bag alongside the laptop is not much better than a digital backup.
- All formatting happens locally in your browser. The codes never leave your device and are not uploaded anywhere.