Microsoft auth

Authenticator data does not automatically transfer to another device just by signing in. A backup must be created on the old device and then restored on the new device, and this only works between the same OS type (iOS→iOS or Android→Android).

Key points:

1. Backup/restore is same-platform only

• Accounts backed up on iOS cannot be restored on Android, and vice versa.
• If the new phone is a different platform, previous Authenticator data will not appear.

2. How backup works on iOS To have data appear on a new iOS device, the old iPhone must have been configured like this before switching:

• iCloud Drive enabled.
• iCloud Keychain enabled.
• iCloud Backup enabled.
• Authenticator toggled on in the “Saved to iCloud” list.
• Authenticator updated to version 6.8.33 or later.
• Authenticator opened at least once after backup was enabled.

On the new iPhone, if the backup was set up correctly:

• Install Microsoft Authenticator.
• If the backup does not show, uninstall and reinstall the app; the backup should then appear for restore.

3. What gets backed up

• Microsoft personal accounts using only one-time password (OTP) codes: OTPs are restored.
• Microsoft personal accounts using passwordless sign-in: only the account name is restored; sign-in must be set up again.
• Work or school accounts: only the account name is restored; sign-in must be set up again.
• Third-party OTP accounts (Amazon, Facebook, Gmail, etc.): OTPs are restored.

4. If nothing shows on the new device

• If the old device never had backup properly configured, or is a different OS type, previous Authenticator data cannot be auto-restored.
• In that case, each account’s MFA must be reconfigured using its own recovery/backup methods (e.g., backup codes, SMS, email, or admin reset for work/school accounts).

To fix this for the future, enable backup on the current device now (following the iOS steps above if using iPhone) so that moving to the next device will allow restore.

References:

• Back up your accounts in Microsoft Authenticator
• Microsoft Authenticator FAQs