How to restore my Authenticator

Question

I had a hacking problem on my personal Hotmail account and Facebook. My Authenticator quit working and I deleted the app. The Authenticator wasn’t backed up and I can’t recover it. I would love to recover my personal email too.

Answer 1

Restoring your Microsoft Authenticator and recovering your personal Hotmail account can be tricky but possible if you follow these steps carefully:

1.Recover Your Microsoft Account

   Use Account Recovery Form:-

     1. Go to the Microsoft Account Recovery Page.

     2. Enter the email address of your Hotmail account and follow the instructions.

     3. Provide as much accurate information as possible (e.g., recent emails, folder names, or other linked accounts) to prove ownership.

   Contact Microsoft Support:-

     If the automated recovery doesn’t work, contact Microsoft support. Use this link to connect with an agent.

   Reset Password (if possible):-

     1. Go to the Microsoft password reset page.

     2. Attempt to reset your password using available recovery options like an alternate email or phone number.

2. Restore Microsoft Authenticator

Since you deleted the app and didn’t back it up, you need to re-register the accounts on your new or reinstalled Authenticator app. Here’s how:

   For Microsoft Accounts:-

     1. Log in to your Microsoft account via a web browser.

     2. Go to Security Settings > Two-step verification.

     3. Reconfigure your Authenticator by scanning the new QR code provided.

 For Other Accounts (e.g., Facebook):-

     1. Log in to the respective account (like Facebook) and go to security settings.

     2. Disable two-factor authentication temporarily if necessary.

     3. Re-enable it and set up the Authenticator app again.

3. Recover Facebook Account

   Access Recovery Options:-

     1. Go to the Facebook Recovery Page.

     2. Use your registered email or phone number to identify your account.

     3. Reset your password and regain access.

   Use Trusted Contacts:-

     If you set up trusted contacts, ask them for recovery codes.

   Contact Facebook Support:-

     If nothing works, fill out the support form available in the Help Center.

4. Prevent Future Issues

   Enable Backups:-

     Reinstall Microsoft Authenticator and enable cloud backups (Settings > Cloud Backup).

   Strengthen Security:-

     Use a unique and strong password, enable multi-factor authentication (MFA), and use a password manager.

   Monitor for Suspicious Activity:-

     Regularly review account activity and enable alerts for unauthorized access.