Back up and recover account credentials in the Authenticator app (2024)

This article applies toiOS devicesrunning version 5.7.0 and later andAndroid devicesrunning version 6.6.0 and later.

The Microsoft Authenticator app backs up your account credentials and related app settings, such as the order of your accounts, to the cloud. You can then use the app to recover your information on a new device, potentially avoiding getting locked out or having to recreate accounts.

Each backup storage location requires you to have one personal Microsoft account, and iOS requires you to also have an iCloud account. You can have multiple accounts stored in that single location. For example, you can have a personal account, a work or school account, and a personal, non-Microsoft account like for Facebook, Google, and so on.

Important:Only your personal and non-Microsoft account credentials are stored, which includes your username and the account verification code that's required to prove your identity. We don't store any other information associated with your accounts, including emails or files. We also don't associate or share your accounts in any way or with any other product or service. Your IT admin doesn't get any information about any of these accounts.

Back up your account credentials

Before you can back up your credentials, you must have:

Turn on cloud backup for iOS devices

On your iOS device, selectSettings, selectBackup, and then turn oniCloud backup. Your account credentials are backed up to your iCloud account.

Back up and recover account credentials in the Authenticator app (1)

Turn on cloud backup for Android devices

On your Android device, selectSettings, selectBackup, and then turn onCloud backup. Your account credentials are backed up to your cloud account.

Back up and recover account credentials in the Authenticator app (2)

Recover your account credentials on your new device

You can recover your account credentials from your cloud account, but you must first make sure that the account you're recovering doesn't exist in the Authenticator app. For example, if you're recovering your personal Microsoft account, you must make sure you don't have a personal Microsoft account already set up in the authenticator app. This check is important so we can be sure we're not overwriting or erasing an existing account by mistake.

To recover your information

  1. On your mobile device, open the Authenticator app, and selectBegin recovery.

    Back up and recover account credentials in the Authenticator app (3)

  2. Sign in to your recovery accountusing the personal Microsoft account you used during the backup process. Your account credentials are recovered to the new device.

After you finish your recovery, you might notice that your personal Microsoft account verification codes in the Authenticator app are different between your old and new phones. The codes are different because each device has its own unique credential, but both are valid and work while signing in using their respective phones.

Recover accounts requiring more verification

If you use push notifications with your personal or work or school accounts, you'll get an on-screen alert that says you must provide additional verification before you can recover your information. Because push notifications require using a credential that's tied to your specific device and never sent over the network, you must prove your identity before the credential is created on your device.

For personal Microsoft accounts, you can prove your identity by entering your password along with an alternate email or phone number. For work or school accounts, you must scan a QR code given to you by your account provider.

To provide more verification for personal accounts

  1. In theAccountsscreen of the Authenticator app, tap the account you want to recover to open the full screen view of the account.

    Back up and recover account credentials in the Authenticator app (4)

  2. Tap the tile for the account you're recovering and then tap the option to sign in to recover. Enter your password and then confirm your email address or phone number as additional verification.

    Back up and recover account credentials in the Authenticator app (5)

To provide more verification for work or school accounts

  1. In theAccountsscreen of the Authenticator app, tap the account you want to recover to open the full screen view of the account.

    Back up and recover account credentials in the Authenticator app (6)

  2. In the full screen view, tap the option to scan a QR code to fully recover.

    Back up and recover account credentials in the Authenticator app (7)

Notes:

  • For more info about QR codes and how to get one, seeGet started with the Authenticator apporSet up security info to use an authenticator app, based on whether your admin has turned on security info.

  • If this is the first time you're setting up the Authenticator app, you might receive a prompt asking whether to allow the app to access your camera (iOS) or to allow the app to take pictures and record video (Android). Allow camera access so the authenticator app can take a picture of the QR code. If you don't allow the camera, you can still set up the authenticator app, but you'll need to add the code information manually. For information about how to add the code manually, see seeManually add an account to the app.

Troubleshoot backup and recovery problems

There are a few reasons why your backup might not be available

Symptom

Suggestion

Changing operating systems

Your backup is stored in the iCloud for iOS and in Microsoft's cloud storage provider for Android. This means that your backup is unavailable if you switch between Android and iOS devices. If you make the switch, you must manually recreate your accounts within the Authenticator app.

Network problems

If you're experiencing network-related problems, make sure you're connected to the network and properly signed in to your account.

Account problems

If you're experiencing account-related problems, make sure that you're properly signed in to your account. For iOS this means that you must be signed into iCloud using the same Apple ID as your iPhone.

Accidental deletion

It's possible that you deleted your backup account from your previous device or while managing your cloud storage account. In this situation, you must manually recreate your account within the app.

Existing Authenticator app accounts

If you've already set up accounts in the Authenticator app, the app won't be able to recover your backed-up accounts. Preventing recovery helps ensure that your account details aren't overwritten with out-of-date information. In this situation, you must remove any existing account information from the existing accounts set up in your Authenticator app before you can recover your backup.

Backup is out-of-date

If your backup information is out-of-date, you might be asked to refresh the information by signing in to your Microsoft Recovery account again. Your recovery account is the personal Microsoft account you used initially to store your backup. If a sign-in is required, you'll see a red dot on your menu or action bar, or you’ll see an exclamation mark icon prompting you to sign in to finish restoring from backup. After you select the appropriate icon, you'll be prompted to sign in again to update your information.

Next steps

Now that you've backed up and recovered your account credentials to your new device, you can continue to use the Authenticator app to verify your identity. For more information, see Sign in to your accounts using the Microsoft Authenticator app.

Back up and recover account credentials in the Authenticator app (2024)

FAQs

How do I get my backup code for Authenticator app? ›

Create & find a set of backup codes
  1. Go to your Google Account.
  2. On the left, click Security.
  3. Under "Signing in to Google," click 2-Step Verification. You may need to sign in.
  4. Under "Backup codes," click Continue .
  5. From here you can: Get backup codes: To add backup codes, click Get backup codes.

How do I get the 6 digit code for the Authenticator app? ›

Set up Authenticator
  1. On your Android device, go to your Google Account.
  2. At the top, tap the Security tab. If at first you don't get the Security tab, swipe through all tabs until you find it.
  3. Under "Signing in to Google," tap 2-Step Verification. ...
  4. Under "Authenticator app," tap Set up. ...
  5. Follow the on-screen steps.

How do I restore my Google Authenticator backup codes? ›

You can't recover Google Authenticator from a lost phone because the secret keys Google Authenticator generates are specific to the device. If you lose the phone, you lose access to the secret keys.

How do I restore my Microsoft authenticator to a new phone? ›

How to move Microsoft Authenticator to a new phone
  1. Open the Microsoft Authenticator app on your old phone.
  2. Tap on the three-dotted icon located at the top right and go to Settings.
  3. Toggle-on Cloud backup for Android or iCloud backup for iPhone.
  4. Install Microsoft Authenticator on your new phone.
  5. Add a recovery account.
Jun 2, 2022

How do I transfer my Authenticator to a new phone without my old phone? ›

If you've deleted the Google Authenticator app on your old phone without first moving the accounts to the new phone, you have two options. Retrieve via backup codes you were given when you created your google authenticator account or you'll have to add each of your accounts manually to your new phone.

What if I accidentally deleted my Authenticator app? ›

If you accidentally uninstall the Authenticator app from your smartphone you will need to re-install it and then run through the setup below. One you have scanned the QR code continue with the setup on the laptop.

What is the secret key for Google Authenticator? ›

The secret key is like a secondary password shared between the authenticator app on your device and your Knowledge Hub account. If you have multiple devices, they must all share the same secret key. If you feel that the secret key has been compromised, you should regenerate and save a new secret key.

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