After uninstalling and reinstalling my Microsoft Authenticator, all the verified IDs disappeared. Now there's only one Microsoft account left.

冷不丁qwq 0 Reputation points
2026-07-23T06:35:27.3766667+00:00

Once my Microsoft Authenticator got uninstalled and then reinstalled, after logging in I found all my authentication IDs were gone. Does anyone have a solution for me?

Microsoft Security | Microsoft Authenticator
0 comments No comments

1 answer

Sort by: Most helpful
  1. AI answer

    2026-07-23T06:35:45.22+00:00

    If backup was enabled before the app was uninstalled, the entries can be restored.

    1. Restore using the same device type only. Backups from iOS restore to iOS, and backups from Android restore to Android.
    2. On Android, open Authenticator and select Restore from backup or Begin recovery before signing in. If already signed in, sign out first, then start recovery.
    3. Sign in with the same recovery account used when the backup was created.
    4. After restore:
      • Work or school accounts restore only the account name. Open each account and sign in again to complete setup.
      • Microsoft personal accounts that use passwordless sign-in restore only the account name and must be signed in again.
      • Third-party accounts and accounts using one-time password codes restore the verification code entries.

    If Restore from backup is not available, remove or sign out of all accounts in Authenticator, then try recovery again.

    For iPhone or iPad, if the backup does not appear on the new install, verify on the old device that:

    1. iCloud Drive is enabled.
    2. iCloud Keychain is enabled.
    3. iCloud Backup is enabled.
    4. In Saved to iCloud, Authenticator is turned on.
    5. Authenticator is version 6.8.33 or later.
    6. The app was opened at least once before switching devices.

    Then on the new iOS device:

    1. Uninstall and reinstall Authenticator.
    2. The backup should appear.

    If no backup was enabled before uninstalling, the missing entries cannot be restored from Authenticator. In that case, the accounts must be added again, and for work or school accounts an admin or help desk might need to reset MFA or allow re-registration.


    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.