Before you start
You'll need your phone with an authenticator app installed (e.g. Google Authenticator)
You'll need to be logged into PACER in another tab
This setup takes about 5 minutes and has 4 steps
Important: Even if you already have an authenticator app connected to PACER, you must add a new app entry by clicking "Add App." This creates a separate connection for NextChapter to use.
Overview
This setup happens across two places PACER and NextChapter. Here's what you'll do:
Start the "Add App" flow in PACER
Copy your secret key from PACER → paste it into NextChapter
Scan the QR code in your authenticator app to finish the PACER setup
You're done! NextChapter will handle MFA automatically from now on
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1. Start the "Add App" flow in PACER
Log into your PACER account at pacer.psc.uscourts.gov
Go to Manage My Account > Manage MFA Settings > Authentication Apps
Click Add App (even if you already have one set up)
Enter the security code sent to your email and click Submit
Name your new app (e.g. "NextChapter") then click Next
You'll now see the Set Up App screen with a QR code and a long secret key beneath it. Keep this tab open.
Step 2. Copy your secret key into NextChapter
On the PACER Set Up App screen, copy the long secret key shown below the QR code
Switch to NextChapter and go to My Account Settings > My User Profile
Paste the key into the Secret Key field and save
✅ Your key is now saved in NextChapter.
Do not close the PACER tab. You still need to complete one more step there.
Step 3. Scan the QR code in your authenticator app
This step completes the setup on PACER's side. Without it, the connection won't work.
Open your authenticator app on your phone
Tap Add new account (or the + icon)
Select Scan QR code
Scan the QR code shown on the PACER Set Up App screen
Your app will display a 6-digit code — enter that code into PACER where prompted
Click Submit or Next in PACER to confirm
Step 4. You're all set
Once PACER confirms the setup, you're done. From now on, NextChapter will automatically retrieve and enter your MFA code every time you file — no more switching to your phone.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to delete my old authenticator app entry in PACER? No, but you can if you want to keep things tidy. You can manage your apps under Manage My Account > Manage MFA Settings > Authentication Apps. You can keep both entries — it won't cause any issues.
What if I already have an authenticator app set up? You still need to go through the "Add App" flow to get a new secret key. Your existing app entry and codes will continue to work alongside the new one.
What if NextChapter isn't entering my code automatically? The most common cause is not completing Step 3 (scanning the QR code). Try the setup again from the beginning — click "Add App" in PACER to generate a new secret key, and make sure you finish all steps including the QR code scan.
OLD ARTICLE BELOW
**NOTE** You will need to re-setup the authenticator app to obtain the secret key. You can use the same app as you currently do, but you need to follow the instructions step by step below and add a "new app" from PACER.
In 2025, all bankruptcy courts mandated Multifactor Authentication (MFA) upon login. NextChapter can bypass this step for you now.
To bypass MFA and allow NextChapter to enter the code for you, you must add your Secret Key in NextChapter in My Account Settings > My User Profile. You need to have a cell phone present to use your authenticator app!
Your Secret Key can be found on your PACER account. Log into your PACER account and visit Manage My Account > Manage MFA Settings > Authentication Apps > Add App. Please note that you MUST click "Add app" even if you already have an app set up with PACER.
Please note that you MUST click "Add app" even if you already have an authenticator app set up with PACER. By clicking "Add app" this will allow you to set up a second authenticator app in Pacer connecting to NextChapter.
(*When adding a new app to Pacer you can use the same authenticator app that you already use on your phone. Once set up is complete you can go back into Pacer and delete your original added app or keep both.)
Once you click Add App, you will receive a security code to your email, you will need to enter that code in the popup shown below and click Submit.
In the next step you will name your new app. This can be any name you want. Once done Click Next.
At the Set Up App stage, you will see a long code. This is your Secret Key. You will want to copy and paste the Secret Key into your NextChapter account in My Account Settings > My User Profile.
Once you save the Secret Key in NextChapter you will then proceed to scan the QR code by opening your current authenticator app and selecting to Add New Account. Once you scan the QR code in your authenticator app, you will receive a code, that code is what you will enter in the tab Enter Passcode
YOU ARE NOT DONE AFTER YOU ADD YOUR SECRET KEY. KEEP READING BELOW
You must follow the instructions above by scanning the QR code with your authenticator app after the secret key has been saved in NextChapter. This is how you will finishing adding the new app to your PACER account.
Once the code has been copy/pasted into NextChapter and you have completed the authenticator app setup, you are all set to file through NextChapter! We will enter the code for you without you having to retrieve it from your app and enter it in NextChapter.