Lost all data on authentication app

Question

I have recently got a new phone and a new phone number, I have transferred the data from my old phone to my new phone, everything but my authentication app transferred, so I now don't have the codes that I need to be able to use apps and accounts I have. I would greatly appreciate some help to get them back.

Answer 1

A normal phone transfer does not transfer Authenticator credentials; restore the Authenticator backup if one exists, then re-register any work or school accounts that cannot be restored.

1. Try restoring the Authenticator backup

Backup and restore work only between the same device type: iPhone-to-iPhone or Android-to-Android. An iPhone backup cannot be restored to Android, or vice versa.^1^

Android

1. Open Microsoft Authenticator before adding or signing in to accounts.
2. Select Restore from backup or Begin recovery.
3. Sign in with the personal Microsoft account previously selected as the recovery account.
4. Confirm that the saved accounts and eligible verification codes appear.
5. If the restore option is missing, sign out of or remove accounts already added to Authenticator, then reopen it and select the recovery option.^2^

iPhone

1. Confirm the new iPhone uses the same Apple/iCloud account as the old phone.
2. Enable iCloud Drive, iCloud Keychain, and iCloud Backup.
3. Install and open Microsoft Authenticator.
4. The backed-up account entries should appear automatically.
5. For entries showing Sign in to restore your account, tap Sign in and complete the additional verification.^2^

Do not erase the old phone if it remains available until sign-in has been tested successfully on the new one.^1^

2. Understand what can be restored

• Personal Microsoft accounts: A 30-second one-time-password entry can be restored. Passwordless sign-in credentials are not restored, so sign-in must be configured again.
• Third-party accounts: Backed-up 30-second codes for services such as Amazon, Facebook, or Gmail can be restored.
• Work or school accounts: Only the account name is restored—not its credentials. Open each restored entry and sign in again to register the new phone. You might see Sign in to add your account.^1^

The new phone number does not recreate Authenticator codes; those depend on the original Authenticator backup or re-registration with each service.

3. If no backup is available

The missing codes generally cannot be reconstructed from the new phone. Recover access separately for every affected account:

1. On the service’s sign-in page, choose Try another way, I can’t use my Authenticator app, or its account-recovery option.
2. Use an available recovery email, SMS number, recovery code, security key, or already signed-in device.
3. Once signed in, open that service’s security or two-step-verification settings.
4. Remove the old Authenticator registration.
5. Add Authenticator again and scan the newly displayed QR code.
6. Test a code before signing out, and save the service’s recovery codes securely.

For a personal Microsoft account, if all security information is inaccessible, select I don’t have any of these during identity verification and follow the security-information replacement process. Microsoft states that replacing all security information introduces a 30-day wait before sign-in becomes available.^3^

4. If a work or school account blocks re-registration

Contact the organization’s IT help desk and request MFA re-registration. An Authentication Administrator can:

1. Open Microsoft Entra admin center.
2. Go to Entra ID → Users.
3. Select your user account.
4. Select Authentication methods → Require re-register MFA.

This removes the existing Authenticator and related MFA methods so that new ones can be enrolled at the next sign-in.^4^

If the missing accounts belong to several organizations where you are a guest, each organization may need to reset its own MFA registration.^5^

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References

1. Transfer Microsoft Authenticator account entries to a new phone
2. [Android](https://support.microsoft.com/authenticator/restore-account-credentials-from-microsoft-authenticator#what-information-is-restored-in-authenticator)
3. Troubleshoot Microsoft verification code issues | Microsoft Support
4. Manage user authentication methods for Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication
5. I change my phone and have issues with auhtenticator - Microsoft Q&A