How TOTP works
A shared secret and the current time produce a short-lived code.
Secret + Time → HMAC → OTP
The service gives you a setup key when you enable an authenticator. This key and the current time are inputs to an HMAC calculation. The result is reduced to a 6- or 8-digit code. AuthWise supports SHA-1, SHA-256 and SHA-512.
The default interval is 30 seconds. The account service must use the same secret, algorithm, digits and interval. AuthWise generates codes; it cannot verify a code with your account or recover a lost setup key.