I do not own a cell phone, nor do I want one. My authenticator has died. What are my options?
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The fob is no longer produced, and resellers have stock that will likely no work much longer.
Unfortunately you need to add a phone number that can receive sms messages when setting up this service, so I’m afraid there isn’t.
If you need help removing the authenticator, you will need to open a ticket, even if you’re not able to login.
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What is the passkey? I remember seeing mention of it. Is it a different form of verification?
That is just a different way to sign in to your account that is tied to the specific device (phone, computer, tablet, etc.) on which you set up the passkey. It is an alternative to a password.
It does not function as, nor take the place of, an Authenticator.
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Not sure it replaces the authenticator or phone notifications,
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Tablet or Cellphone are it I am afraid. Any physical authenticators you “may” find on ebay/amazon have the same battery yours did and could die at any time.
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A passkey isn’t exactly the same thing as an Authenticator. It is an alternative means of logging in though.
Using a Passkey with Battlenet
It sounds like that lasted a good while.
I’m afraid the only options for the Authenticator are a Cellphone, though as Deslar mentioned you may be able to use a tablet device. I have an alternate account set up with mine and it works fine.
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How would that work? I have an old iPod and an old iPad to work with, if either one is usable to authenticate.
if your authenticator had died. send a ticket to customer support remove the authenticator. then attach it to the smartphone that is needed to prevent hackers from getting in. that is the only option to do.
They have to be able to receive SMS. A couple of years ago they merged where you could choose one or the other, or both. But now you have to have a valid cell phone capable of receiving text messages.
If it’s a cost issue and you’re in the US, there are programs that will net you a cell phone at little to no cost.
[Edit to add…]
Sorry, had to dig through my bookmarks. This older post has some info and links in it if it is a financial issue for you. That’s not to say it’s an assumption of why - I’m just offering an option on the chance that is the issue. I know there are people who just don’t want one, and I respect that as well.
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Another option, and I do NOT recommend it, is to simply remove the authenticator and play without one. You are not required to have one to play. However, your account will be less secure and there will be some restrictions in game. I think one of them is that you cannot be the owner of a guild. And some guilds will not even accept membership without an authenticator on the account.
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It works on an IPad but you do need to doublecheck the OS needed; when my old IPhone became too old to run the Battle.net app, I was able to activate it on an IPad Air 6th gen (2018 - currently running IOS 17.7.11).
And you do need a way to receive SMS messages. My IPad and IPhone are connected so I could receive messages through the IPad when at home. No idea how that worked, but it was a welome surprise when the phone broke down once.
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Thanks for the information, but the issue is not cost. I do not want a cell phone. So, receiving texts on the iPad is not an option? Sorry, I am not computer savvy……
There are some services that offer texting on iPads and other devices, but they do not qualify typically as a valid service per se. They’re more like a voice over internet phone or VOIP which doesn’t meet the security criteria.
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Then it sounds like you might be out of options other than not having an authenticator, which obviously puts your account at risk.
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This. If you are unwilling to have a cell phone or tablet, then you will have to leave your account unprotected. An Authenticator is not required for this game, though it is strongly encouraged.
This will mean that you will lose the Core Hound pet, and if you have it, the four extra bag slots in the default backpack. So make sure all your characters have at least four empty bag spaces, if that’s the case.
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Before you submit a ticket make sure you still have game CDs with the Authentication Key. The GM then will send you a questionnaire, want is your main, what server, etc. I’ll assume without the Authentication Key you’ll be out of luck, however it never got to that with me.
Now after you get your account back get a long & strong password. Without a Smart Phone you won’t have the extra layer of security. The boon of a Smart Phone is the 4 extra bag slots.
The OP hasn’t lost control of their account. Only that their fob has finally bit the bullet, and they were trying to see what options they had to replace it that weren’t dependent on a cell phone.
And Blizzard understands that all people do not keep the original discs and key. That’s just one way to verify one’s account.
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Many people never had one!
Anyway, am completely imagining things, or am I remembering right that you need SMS to set up a new authenticator, but not to use it once it’s set up? If that’s the case, maybe OP can have a friend with cell phone help them and set up an authenticator on the tablet. Having SMS and the authenticator is better, but the authenticator alone is much better than nothing. I believe you just need Wi-Fi on the tablet to do it this way. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong because this memory is pretty hazy.
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There are options to add an Authenticator without SMS, such as entering multiple consecutive codes.**
(** - Or it used to be. I haven’t done it recently, so if my information is outdated, the apologies.)