#restore authenticator ap on new phone

Use the following steps depending on whether a backup exists and what kind of accounts were in Microsoft Authenticator.

1. If a cloud backup was configured (iOS)
   • On the old iPhone (if still available):
     1. Turn on iCloud Drive, iCloud Keychain, and iCloud Backup.
     2. In Saved to iCloud, make sure Authenticator is toggled on.
     3. Ensure Authenticator is updated to version 6.8.33 or later and open the app at least once.
   • On the new iPhone:
     1. Install Microsoft Authenticator from the App Store.
     2. If you don’t see the backup, uninstall and reinstall the Authenticator app.
     3. The backup should then appear and you can restore it.
2. If backup does not appear on the new phone
   • Follow the iOS troubleshooting steps above (iCloud Drive/Keychain/Backup enabled, Authenticator listed in Saved to iCloud, app version 6.8.33+).
   • After confirming those on the old device, uninstall/reinstall Authenticator on the new device again and check for the backup.
3. What gets restored
   • Microsoft personal accounts
     • If configured as one-time password (OTP) only, the codes are restored and usable immediately.
     • If configured for passwordless sign-in, only the account name is restored; sign-in must be completed again to re-enable passwordless.
   • Work or school accounts
     • Only the account name is restored; sign in again to re-activate them.
   • 3rd party accounts (Amazon, Facebook, Gmail, etc.)
     • OTP codes are restored and usable.
4. If unable to restore from backup
   • If the issue is that the backup account itself cannot be accessed, support cannot restore Authenticator data.
   • Use the Sign-in helper to regain access to the Microsoft backup account.
   • If the problem is something else (for example, no backup was ever configured), each account must be added again manually following its normal 2FA setup process. See the “Learn how” link in the restore article for adding accounts again.
5. If “Action required” appears after restore
   • Open Authenticator → Accounts.
   • Tap the account marked Action required.
   • Tap the tile, choose the option to sign in to recover, enter the password, and confirm email or phone as requested.

If access to the old device and backup account is completely lost and no other MFA methods are available, recovery must be done per-account (for example, using each service’s account recovery or contacting its support).

References:

• Restore account credentials from Microsoft Authenticator
• Back up your accounts in Microsoft Authenticator
• Microsoft Authenticator FAQs