If you use Google Messages on your Android phone, you may have noticed that when you receive a new OTP (one-time password) in a message, the message will automatically delete after a few seconds. This is because the OTPs are sent as part of the message body and not as an attachment, so they’re automatically deleted by Google when the message is sent. If you want to keep an OTP in a message for later use, you can either copy it to your clipboard or save it to your phone’s storage. ..
OTPs via SMS may not be the most secure, but it’s a very common choice for 2FA. Since an OTP is by definition only for one-time use, there’s not much danger in keeping them around. That also means there’s no reason to save them. So let’s make it easy to keep your messaging app clean.
RELATED: What Is Two-Factor Authentication, and Why Do I Need It?
We’ll be using Google’s Messaging app for this. It’s pre-installed on many Android devices already, but you can download it from the Play Store if you don’t have it. Upon opening the app, you’ll be walked through setting it as the default.
Next, tap your profile icon in the top right.
Select “Messages Settings” from the menu.
Go to “Message Organization” in the settings.
Now simply toggle on “Auto-Delete OTPs After 24 Hrs.”
As explained on the settings screen, this will permanently delete any current OTPs you have and those in the future. That’s perfect because OTPs are only valid for a very short time, usually around 10 minutes. 24 hours is more than enough time to use the OTP, though you may want to consider switching from getting them via SMS.
RELATED: Why You Shouldn’t Use SMS for Two-Factor Authentication (and What to Use Instead)
