Loss of data in Authenticator

Yes, but only if a backup existed from the old phone.

What can be recovered depends on the account type:

• Microsoft personal accounts using one-time password codes: the codes are restored.
• Third-party accounts such as Amazon, Facebook, or Gmail: the one-time password codes are restored.
• Work or school accounts: only the account name is restored, and each account must be signed in again to complete setup.
• Microsoft personal accounts using passwordless sign-in: only the account name is restored, and sign-in is required again.

Important limits:

• Backup and restore only work on the same device type. An iPhone backup cannot be restored to Android, and an Android backup cannot be restored to iPhone.
• If backup was not enabled on the old phone, the missing accounts generally cannot be recovered from Authenticator and must be added again with each app or service.

For iPhone/iPad, verify this on the old device before switching phones:

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

If this is an iOS-to-iOS move and restore did not appear:

1. Uninstall Microsoft Authenticator on the new phone.
2. Reinstall it.
3. The backup should then appear.

For Android, backup must have been turned on in Authenticator:

1. Open Microsoft Authenticator.
2. Open the menu and select Settings.
3. Turn on Cloud Backup.
4. Select the Microsoft personal account used to store the backup.

If Restore from backup is unavailable, check all of these:

• Backup was enabled on the old phone.
• The same recovery account is being used.
• The restore is being done to the same device type.

If no backup exists or it was deleted/overwritten, the affected apps usually need to be re-added individually through each service’s account recovery or MFA reset process.

References:

• Transfer Microsoft Authenticator account entries to a new phone
• Restore account credentials from Microsoft Authenticator
• Microsoft Authenticator FAQs
• Back up account credentials in Microsoft Authenticator