How to get access to accounts from Microsoft authenticator app with no backup or old phone

If there was no backup and the old phone is unusable, the old Microsoft Authenticator data cannot be moved to the new phone.

What can still be recovered depends on the account type:

1. Microsoft personal accounts
   • If an account used only a one-time password code, those codes can be restored only if a backup existed.
   • If the account used passwordless sign-in, only the account name is backed up, and sign-in is required again after restore.
2. Work or school accounts
   • Only the account name is backed up.
   • After restore, sign-in is required again to complete setup.
   • If there is no other registered sign-in method, the organization’s IT admin or help desk must reset MFA methods or provide the approved recovery process.
3. Third-party accounts such as social media accounts
   • Their one-time password entries can be restored only if a backup existed.
   • If no backup exists, those codes are not recoverable through Authenticator. Each account must be recovered directly with that service’s own account recovery process.

What to do next:

1. Install Microsoft Authenticator on the new phone.
2. Check whether Restore from backup or Begin recovery is available.
3. If available, sign in with the same recovery account used for the old phone backup.
4. If restore does not work, confirm these conditions:
   • backup was enabled on the old phone
   • the same recovery account is being used
   • restore is being done to the same device type only (iOS-to-iOS or Android-to-Android)
5. For any work or school account that shows “Sign in to add your account”, open it and sign in again.
6. For any personal or social account that cannot be restored, use that service’s recovery options and then add the account back to Authenticator manually.

Important limits:

• Backup and restore work only on the same device type. iOS backups cannot be restored to Android, and Android backups cannot be restored to iOS.
• If access to the backup account is lost, support cannot recover the Authenticator account credentials.
• If restore is impossible for any other reason, the remaining option is to add the accounts again.

References:

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