How to recover an added account on Microsoft Authenticator

Question

I added an account on the Microsoft Authenticator app in the previous phone I had. Then I got a new phone and signed in but couldn't find the account I added. I'm currently trying to sign into the added account (Tentrade) and it's telling me to check my Authenticator app.

Answer 1

Hello Michael Daodu,

Thanks for your question.

Switching phones requires a backup of your existing MFA Authenticator on your old device.

To move your authenticator app and configure accounts without losing data, you need to:

• Go to your authenticator app
• Open Microsoft Authenticator. Tap the three vertical dots at the top right, and then tap "Settings."
• In the "Backup" section, toggle-On "Cloud Backup" on an Android phone, or "iCloud Backup" on an iPhone.
• This will proceed to back up your data. (Note, this will back this up to the account you used to set authenticator up)

You can then proceed to navigate to your new phone

• Open your fresh Authenticator and navigate to recovery tool. In recovery you should see >> "Already have a back up? sign in to your recovery account"
• Once you do this, You'll be asked to sign in to the Microsoft account you used for the backup on your old phone. Your accounts will then automatically be added to Microsoft Authenticator on your new one.

Pls note that some accounts will ask you to revalidate, to confirm it is you. by signing in to those accounts or scanning a QR code. Microsoft Authenticator will display a message if you need to do this.

If you do not have your previous phone, you will need to contact your IT Admin or Tentrade to help reset your account.

You can mark it 'Accept Answer' if this helped.