Microsoft Authenticator help!!!

Question

I have Microsoft Authenticator app. I had Paypal on it but I accidentally deleted that from the authenticator app, now I can't login to my Paypal account because obviously it would ask me for a code from microsoft authenticator. I have no cloud back up so I can't retrieve anything.. Can someone help me please, I can't re-add my paypal there because I can't login anymore, as the code is needed.

Answer 1

Deleting the PayPal entry from Microsoft Authenticator removes the one-time password configuration for that account. Without a backup and without being able to sign in to PayPal, the PayPal entry cannot be recreated from the Authenticator side.

To regain access, recovery must be done through PayPal’s own account recovery options (for example, alternative MFA methods, SMS, email, or their support). Microsoft Authenticator and Microsoft support cannot restore or recreate the PayPal 2FA configuration when there is no backup and no access to the PayPal account.

For future protection of other accounts in Microsoft Authenticator, enable backup so one-time password accounts can be restored if the app or device is lost.

On Android:

1. Open Microsoft Authenticator.
2. Go to Settings.
3. Turn on the Cloud Backup toggle.
4. Select a Microsoft personal account where the backup will be stored and tap OK.

On iOS:

1. Enable iCloud Drive, iCloud Keychain, and iCloud Backup on the device.
2. Install Authenticator and sign in so accounts can be backed up and later restored on another iOS device.

If a backup cannot be restored for any reason in the future, affected accounts can only be added again by signing in to those services and reconfiguring their 2FA.

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References:

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