Back up authenticator app did not restore all other accounts

On Android, Microsoft Authenticator does not restore every detail for every account type from backup. What is restored depends on the account:

1. Microsoft personal accounts
   • If the account uses only a one-time password code (TOTP), the codes are restored from backup.
   • If the account also uses passwordless sign-in, only the account name is backed up. After recovery, each such account must be signed in again in Authenticator to fully re‑enable it.
2. Work or school accounts
   • Only the account name is restored. After recovery, each work/school account must be signed in again to complete setup.
3. Third‑party accounts (Amazon, Facebook, Gmail, etc.)
   • These use one-time password codes that refresh every 30 seconds. Those codes are restored from backup.

If some accounts are missing or show prompts like “Sign in to restore your account” or “Action required”, they need extra verification before use:

1. Open Authenticator and go to the Accounts screen.
2. For entries showing “Sign in to restore your account”, tap Sign in and:
   • Enter the account password.
   • Confirm email address or phone number as additional verification.
3. For entries showing “Action required”:
   • Tap the account to open the full view.
   • Tap the tile and choose the option to sign in to recover.
   • Enter the password and complete the extra verification.

If some accounts do not appear at all after recovery:

• Ensure backup and restore were done on the same device type (Android → Android only). Accounts backed up on iOS cannot be restored on Android.
• If Restore from backup or Begin recovery was not used correctly (or not available), it may be necessary to add those accounts again manually in Authenticator. See the “How to add your accounts to Microsoft Authenticator” guidance in the referenced article.

If unable to restore because the backup account itself cannot be accessed, the documented path is to regain access to the Microsoft backup account first (for example, via the Microsoft account sign‑in helper), then attempt restore again; otherwise, re‑add the accounts manually.

References:

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