How to restore account credentials from the iCloud backup

Matthew Jones 0 Reputation points
2026-06-04T09:21:45.01+00:00

How do I restore account credentials from the iCloud backup for the authenticator?

Microsoft Security | Microsoft Authenticator
0 comments

1 answer

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest

  1. AI answer

    2026-06-04T09:22:07.2033333+00:00

    To restore Microsoft Authenticator account credentials from an iCloud backup on iOS, follow these steps:

    1. Make sure the backup exists and is usable
      • On the old iOS device (where Authenticator was working):
        • Enable iCloud Drive. Learn how.
        • Enable iCloud Keychain. Learn how.
        • Enable iCloud Backup. Learn how.
        • Go to the Saved to iCloud list and confirm Authenticator is turned on. Learn how.
        • Ensure Authenticator is updated to version 6.8.33 or later and open the app at least once.
    2. Install Authenticator on the new iOS device
      • Download and install Microsoft Authenticator. Get the app.
    3. Restore from iCloud backup on the new device
      • Sign in to the same iCloud account used on the old device.
      • Open Microsoft Authenticator.
      • When prompted, sign in with the same personal Microsoft account that was used as the recovery account.
      • The app will detect the iCloud backup and restore the saved accounts.
      • If the backup does not appear:
        • Uninstall and reinstall the Authenticator app.
        • Open it again and sign in to the same recovery account; the backup should now appear.
    4. Re-sign in where required
      • For Microsoft personal accounts that use passwordless sign-in, work or school accounts, and some other accounts, only the account names are restored. After restore, sign in again to re-enable sign-in approvals.

    Notes about what is restored

    • Microsoft personal accounts:
      • If configured only for one-time password (OTP), the OTP codes are restored.
      • If configured for passwordless sign-in, only the account name is restored; sign-in is required again.
    • Work or school accounts: only the account name is restored; sign-in is required again.
    • 3rd party accounts (Amazon, Facebook, Gmail, etc.): OTP codes are restored.

    If iCloud cannot be accessed or restore still fails, accounts must be added again manually. Learn how.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

    Was this answer helpful?

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.