I just bought some Nitrokey 3C NFC devices with the intention of using them as I have used my Yubikeys: both for passwordless login and for storing OTP secrets. But while the Nitrokey 3C NFC can store OTP secrets, it seems you can only access them on a computer using the Nitrokey App 2. There is no Nitrokey app for Android. So am I right in thinking that it is impossible to use the Nitrokey to store and retrieve OTP codes in Android, as you can with Yubikey?
If so, I feel the marketing material needs to make this clearer. It says the Nitrokey 3C NFC supports One Time Passwords and both USB and NFC. From this one might reasonably assume one could access OTPs from a phone over NFC.
So I tried using USB-C instead, only to discover another frustration: unlike the Yubikey, the Nitrokey’s USB-C plug is so short that it cannot be inserted into the phone without removing the phone case first. It is blocked by the side of the key hitting the phone case before the plug is in the socket. And even after removing the case and getting it into the socket there still seems to be no way to access OTP codes.
Would I be right to conclude that the Nitrokey 3C NFC just isn’t suitable for OTP codes on Android? If so, could the website be updated to make clear that you can’t do this?
Its just that there hasn’t be any application developed for mobile for nitrokey otp and passwords stuff.
I mean if somebody built a compatible app , otps from nk3 should work on mobile too.
I know that few others have also shown interest in this feature (including me).
But currently this doesn’t seem to be even on the development roadmap for nitrokey team.
i have been trying to get the support for this somehow , or even try to build the support myself with the limited programming experience i have.
Maybe you can write an email to them to show more interest.
I have the same issue. Bought a Nitrokey. Set it up on my PC, got excited it works, then find it won’t work on my phone. Which makes the key useless. Will Nitrokey accept return? Or have I lost £50 ?
Thanks. Technically this is something I’d be interested in working on and probably have the skills to do, but I do feel that if the Nitrokey company is profiting off these devices they should fund the development of such an app. In the meantime, I think they should update their sales documentation to clarify that this is not yet possible, since it’s a main feature people will expect when they see that OTP is supported.
I support open source and think the existence of Nitrokey with its open-source firmware is great, but for most people Yubikey is currently a more useful all-in-one package until Nitrokey gets itself a proper phone app. For now, without mobile OTP support, I have purchased two keys I have no use for.
I am not sure exactly how much they are profiting of it right now or their finances. They do also accept donations for maintaining software upgrades.
Seeing at the shop listing , they used to earlier have a section where the things which are yet to be delivered were listed . So users know if some feature is unfinished.
But i also can see there was no such specific mention of a totp app for mobile. Though it can look different from your perspective that its assumed such things would be available. So this a little subjective.
Personally i had referred to many reviews on internet and waited till secure element update was fone before going for this.
So depends on whether if you did check some reviews in market. which clearly didn’t mention of mobile app.
Also to note , i don’t think not able to access totp on mobile is really making the nk3 useles. If use ask long term users , its not that much used. There are other important features like openpgp card which is most used.
Still hopefully all is not lost , i myself want this feature to be available on mobile too. Do email them once about totp app , and also to mention it on their products page.
Best would be to reach them through email.
We’ll try to take input from nitrokey devs about their plans for Android app and maybe get something started.
