Authenticator

Question

I have got a new phone. It is an iPhone. My old phone is an iPhone as well. I have downloaded the Authenticator app on my new phone but whenever I need to use it it only sends the code to my old phone.

Answer 1

This usually happens because the Authenticator app is still active on the old iPhone, and push notifications are being sent to the device where Authenticator was last used.

Try this:

1. Check the old iPhone and approve the sign-in there if possible.
2. On the new iPhone, make sure the Authenticator backup was restored correctly:
   • On the old iPhone, enable iCloud Drive, iCloud Keychain, and iCloud Backup.
   • Go to Apple Account > iCloud > Saved to iCloud and make sure Authenticator is turned on.
   • Open Authenticator at least once on the old phone before switching.
   • Authenticator should be version 6.8.33 or later.
3. If the backup does not appear on the new iPhone, uninstall and reinstall the Authenticator app on the new device, then check again.
4. For work or school accounts, after restore it is expected to see “Sign in to add your account.” Open that account in Authenticator and sign in again to complete setup.
5. After the new iPhone is working, remove the old device/Authenicator registration so notifications stop going to the old phone.
6. Keep the old iPhone until sign-in works on the new one for the accounts used most often.

If the account is a work or school account and the new phone still cannot be used, add the new phone from the Security info page or ask the organization’s IT admin to reset MFA and require re-registration.

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• Microsoft Authenticator FAQs
• Transfer Microsoft Authenticator account entries to a new phone
• Transfer Microsoft Authenticator account entries to a new phone
• Microsoft Authenticator FAQs
• Use a screen reader to set up and troubleshoot multifactor authentication