Microsoft Authenticator

Question

I lost access to my Microsoft Authenticator account when I changed my phone and I dont have a backup

Answer 1

Losing access to Microsoft Authenticator on a new phone without a backup means the app itself cannot be recovered by support, but access to accounts can still be restored using other methods.

1. If the accounts were backed up
   • Authenticator can only restore from a backup made on the same platform (iOS→iOS or Android→Android).
   • For iOS: enable iCloud Drive, iCloud Keychain, and iCloud Backup on the device, install Authenticator, then sign in and restore. If the backup does not appear, uninstall and reinstall the app, then check again.
   • For Android: open Authenticator and select Restore from backup or Begin recovery before signing in. If those options are not visible, remove or sign out of all accounts in the app, then try again.
   • After restore, some accounts only restore the account name (Microsoft work/school and passwordless Microsoft accounts); each of these will require signing in again to re-activate.
2. If there is truly no backup
   • Authenticator account credentials themselves cannot be recovered by support if the backup account (iCloud or Microsoft backup account) is not accessible.
   • In this case, each account protected by Authenticator must be re-added using its own recovery process:
     • For Microsoft personal accounts: use other security info (email, phone, etc.) or the Microsoft account sign-in helper to regain access and then reconfigure Authenticator.
     • For work or school accounts: sign in using another authentication method if available, then add Authenticator again following the organization’s MFA setup.
     • For third-party accounts (Amazon, Facebook, Gmail, etc.): use their account recovery flows (email, SMS, backup codes) to sign in, then scan a new QR code into Authenticator.
3. If access to the Microsoft backup account is lost
   • If the Authenticator backup was tied to a Microsoft account that is no longer accessible, use the Microsoft account sign-in helper to recover that Microsoft account first. Without that, Authenticator backups tied to it cannot be restored.
4. What will be restored when backup works
   • Microsoft personal accounts:
     • OTP-only accounts: the 30‑second one-time password codes are restored and usable immediately.
     • Passwordless accounts: only the account name is restored; sign-in is required again to re-enable passwordless.
   • Work or school accounts: only the account name is restored; sign-in is required again.
   • Third-party OTP accounts: the 30‑second codes are restored.
5. If none of the above works
   • When restore is not possible for any reason other than backup-account access, each account can still be added again manually using its own MFA setup or recovery options.

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References:

• Restore account credentials from Microsoft Authenticator
• Back up your accounts in Microsoft Authenticator
• Microsoft Authenticator FAQs
• How to go passwordless with your Microsoft account
• Troubleshoot Microsoft verification code issues
• Troubleshoot problems with Microsoft Authenticator
• Cannot authenticate with E-mail when logging into Microsoft Authenticator(iOS). - Microsoft Q&A
• How Do I Regain Access to My Account After Losing Access to Microsoft Authenticator? (Urgent Request). - Microsoft Q&A
• I have a Micrsoft business account and I am the admin and the only user registered under this account. I can't log in because i have replaced my phone and the authenticator doesn't work. - Microsoft Q&A
• Microsoft authenticator sending me into a spiral - Microsoft Q&A
• Requesting a Tenant Admin MFA Reset - Microsoft Q&A