Authenticator help

Question

My phone got stolen cant log in to gmail without authenticator can i recover my authenticator? I can open microsoft authenticator but needs gmail. Loop

Answer 1

If the Gmail entry in Microsoft Authenticator was set up as a one-time password code, it can be restored only if cloud backup had already been enabled on the old phone and the restore is done on the same device type.

What to do:

1. In Microsoft Authenticator, use Restore from backup or Begin recovery before signing in.
2. Sign in with the same recovery account used for the backup.
3. If a backup exists, backed-up one-time password codes and account names will appear.
4. If Restore from backup is not shown, remove or sign out of all accounts in Authenticator, then try restore again.

Important limits:

• Backup and restore work only on the same device type. iOS backups cannot be restored to Android, and Android backups cannot be restored to iOS.
• If no backup was enabled before the phone was stolen, the Authenticator codes cannot be recovered from Microsoft Authenticator.
• If restore fails for any other reason, the account must be added again.

If the app is asking to sign in and creating a loop, on Android the restore option must be selected before signing in. If already signed in, sign out first and then start recovery.

If the restored account shows Action required or Sign in to restore your account, open that account in Authenticator, sign in, and complete the extra verification.

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References:

• Restore one-time password codes in Microsoft Authenticator | Microsoft Support
• [Android](https://support.microsoft.com/authenticator/restore-account-credentials-from-microsoft-authenticator#what-information-is-restored-in-authenticator)
• [iOS](https://support.microsoft.com/authenticator/restore-account-credentials-from-microsoft-authenticator#unable-to-restore-authenticator-account-credentials)
• Back up account credentials in Microsoft Authenticator