I accidentally clicked fresh login and lost my backup. I need to know whether I can retrieve my old backup ?

Question

The UI design for MS Authenticator Restoration is bad. I accidentally clicked fresh login and lost my backup. I need to know whether I can retrieve my old backup. This should be notified to users at login page that a fresh login will delete backup, OR, when trying to login, there should be a notification regarding available backup that can be restored. This is a serious UX flaw. I need to know, are there multiple Restoration point for microsoft authenticator app.

Answer 1

@Joel Joy , thanks for posting in Q&A. I'm sorry to hear about your experience with the Microsoft Authenticator app. Unfortunately, based on my researching, it seems once you perform a fresh login, the previous backup is typically overwritten, and there isn't a way to retrieve the old backup.

Regarding your concern about multiple restoration points, I don't find the app currently support this feature. The backup and restore process is designed to work with a single backup point.

Your feedback about the UI design and the need for clearer notifications is very valid. It would be beneficial for users to have warnings about the consequences of a fresh login and the availability of backups. I recommend sharing this feedback in your authenticator app by clicking the menu under the left top, select send feedback and add your request.

---

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread..

Answer 2

For those who are planning to change device, please don't do fresh login to the app and enable cloud backup. This will delete your existing backup. Please click on the small text under login button to restore and login to your account, in the new device. If the application gave a proper info popup regarding this at the login screen, this problem won't have raised.