Transfer data of Microsoft authenticator from Android to Iphone

Question

Transfer data of Microsoft authenticator from Android to Iphone

Manohar Vasnani 116

Is there a way to restore Microsoft authenticator accounts/data from Android phone on to a iPhone?

If not, what are the steps for manually transferring individual accounts to iphone Microsoft authenticator app.

Mihir Shah 6 Reputation points

2021-11-11T04:18:30.08+00:00

I am facing the exact same issue lately - and Microsoft has zero support for this at the time of writing this though.
Anggrayudi Hardiannicko 26 Reputation points

2022-06-13T13:13:10.747+00:00

I wonder why a big company like Microsoft can't add this simple thing. I finally moved to Authy because it supports both iOS and Android. The accounts on your iPhone will be synced if you make changes on Android, and vice versa!
d1g1t4Lnrg 6 Reputation points

2022-07-20T17:26:01.923+00:00

How come the google transfer of accounts from one platform "Android" to "IOS" was simple.
Microsoft you need to fix your application across platforms! All your support documentation is incorrect on this! Dam it.
ZH 10 Reputation points

2023-01-20T23:25:35.4133333+00:00

Indeed pathetic... tried multiple times and failed.
Suresh Udhayakumar 6 Reputation points

2023-01-30T16:32:48.97+00:00

No solution after spending hours , recreate users account and asking people to help recreate accounts , some times ITIL process need to be followed in order to get the re-registration.

Not a having solution long time not good
Jawad Al Zaabi 5 Reputation points

2023-03-12T20:28:55.1733333+00:00

Sadly, I’m facing the same issue.
Jeff Leach 5 Reputation points

2023-05-15T22:50:22.7066667+00:00

Please fix - Microsoft
Matt Ellement 0 Reputation points

2023-09-28T17:31:08.6066667+00:00

Yeah I’m dealing with the same issue. Microsoft you should be embarrassed. As an IT professional I hate supporting your software for reasons like this. Stop making software all together and stick to OS and cloud, because clearly you don’t care enough. If google can do it, you should be able to as well.
François Ainsley 25 Reputation points

2023-10-04T18:02:05.6833333+00:00

Same issue, just got an iPhone 14. Installed MS Authenticator, logged in to my Microsoft Account and now I can't see anything I used to have on my Android. I have spent hours to solve this. I have to contact every service provider...
Chen, Leland 0 Reputation points

2023-11-17T01:46:02.4033333+00:00

I just got new iPhone14 plus from Verizon, encounter the same issue now. Besides manually contact IT one by one to add it back, Is there other way to do this ?
MX 10 Reputation points

2023-11-27T22:47:31.11+00:00

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/1160508/move-authenticator-app-from-android-to-ios
DamienC 5 Reputation points

2023-12-01T01:37:39.3566667+00:00

I don't understand this restriction... Google Authenticator transfered in a bliss.
I'm not sure if it's Microsoft being lazy or Apple locking stuff... But again, Google does it seamlessly, so... ?

Anyways. I'll just stick everything that can in my Google Authenticator now.
Ridiculous.
Daniel Frome 0 Reputation points

2024-01-13T12:45:06.1966667+00:00

I am another user who wants to express frustration at this broken functionality. It should be a seamless experience between android and iOS. Google Authenticator achieved this many years ago.
Deleted

This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.
Hank Cohen 0 Reputation points

2024-01-28T05:56:33.92+00:00

Clearly this problem has been known since 2021 and has not been fixed. Time to find another THOTP authenticator app that doesn't share shuch a senseless incompatibility.
Puiu Cosmin Antohe 5 Reputation points

2024-04-18T20:19:50.6766667+00:00

I have the same issue. I have decided to not use Microsoft Authenticator any more.
Kayla Phillips Novo 5 Reputation points

2024-05-19T18:50:50.27+00:00

This is really rediculous. More than 2 and half years later, they haven't fixed this? I just transferred everything from Google Auth on my Android to my iPhone is less than 10 seconds with a QR code. And because of Microsoft won't resolve something so simple, I literally have to carry two phones all the time.

If this isn't deliberately attemping to sabotage and punish Apple users, I don't know what is. Its shameful, petty, greedy and disgusting.
Phillips, Jack 0 Reputation points

2024-12-19T12:00:40.78+00:00

It's been 3 years and Microsoft still hasn't solved this? jfc... Google Auth has no problem with migration, it's super easy. I would recommend using that over MS, sadly.
M Rashid Raza 0 Reputation points

2025-05-08T17:18:22.7066667+00:00

Microsoft Auth wasted time of thousand of people on migration. It is not a good auth app at all.

6 answers

Your answer

Mihir Shah 6 Reputation points

2021-11-11T04:18:30.08+00:00

I am facing the exact same issue lately - and Microsoft has zero support for this at the time of writing this though.
Anggrayudi Hardiannicko 26 Reputation points

2022-06-13T13:13:10.747+00:00

I wonder why a big company like Microsoft can't add this simple thing. I finally moved to Authy because it supports both iOS and Android. The accounts on your iPhone will be synced if you make changes on Android, and vice versa!
d1g1t4Lnrg 6 Reputation points

2022-07-20T17:26:01.923+00:00

How come the google transfer of accounts from one platform "Android" to "IOS" was simple.
Microsoft you need to fix your application across platforms! All your support documentation is incorrect on this! Dam it.
ZH 10 Reputation points

2023-01-20T23:25:35.4133333+00:00

Indeed pathetic... tried multiple times and failed.
Suresh Udhayakumar 6 Reputation points

2023-01-30T16:32:48.97+00:00

No solution after spending hours , recreate users account and asking people to help recreate accounts , some times ITIL process need to be followed in order to get the re-registration.

Not a having solution long time not good
Jawad Al Zaabi 5 Reputation points

2023-03-12T20:28:55.1733333+00:00

Sadly, I’m facing the same issue.
Jeff Leach 5 Reputation points

2023-05-15T22:50:22.7066667+00:00

Please fix - Microsoft
Matt Ellement 0 Reputation points

2023-09-28T17:31:08.6066667+00:00

Yeah I’m dealing with the same issue. Microsoft you should be embarrassed. As an IT professional I hate supporting your software for reasons like this. Stop making software all together and stick to OS and cloud, because clearly you don’t care enough. If google can do it, you should be able to as well.
François Ainsley 25 Reputation points

2023-10-04T18:02:05.6833333+00:00

Same issue, just got an iPhone 14. Installed MS Authenticator, logged in to my Microsoft Account and now I can't see anything I used to have on my Android. I have spent hours to solve this. I have to contact every service provider...
Chen, Leland 0 Reputation points

2023-11-17T01:46:02.4033333+00:00

I just got new iPhone14 plus from Verizon, encounter the same issue now. Besides manually contact IT one by one to add it back, Is there other way to do this ?
MX 10 Reputation points

2023-11-27T22:47:31.11+00:00

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/1160508/move-authenticator-app-from-android-to-ios
DamienC 5 Reputation points

2023-12-01T01:37:39.3566667+00:00

I don't understand this restriction... Google Authenticator transfered in a bliss.
I'm not sure if it's Microsoft being lazy or Apple locking stuff... But again, Google does it seamlessly, so... ?

Anyways. I'll just stick everything that can in my Google Authenticator now.
Ridiculous.
Daniel Frome 0 Reputation points

2024-01-13T12:45:06.1966667+00:00

I am another user who wants to express frustration at this broken functionality. It should be a seamless experience between android and iOS. Google Authenticator achieved this many years ago.
Deleted

This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.
Hank Cohen 0 Reputation points

2024-01-28T05:56:33.92+00:00

Clearly this problem has been known since 2021 and has not been fixed. Time to find another THOTP authenticator app that doesn't share shuch a senseless incompatibility.
Puiu Cosmin Antohe 5 Reputation points

2024-04-18T20:19:50.6766667+00:00

I have the same issue. I have decided to not use Microsoft Authenticator any more.
Kayla Phillips Novo 5 Reputation points

2024-05-19T18:50:50.27+00:00

This is really rediculous. More than 2 and half years later, they haven't fixed this? I just transferred everything from Google Auth on my Android to my iPhone is less than 10 seconds with a QR code. And because of Microsoft won't resolve something so simple, I literally have to carry two phones all the time.

If this isn't deliberately attemping to sabotage and punish Apple users, I don't know what is. Its shameful, petty, greedy and disgusting.
Phillips, Jack 0 Reputation points

2024-12-19T12:00:40.78+00:00

It's been 3 years and Microsoft still hasn't solved this? jfc... Google Auth has no problem with migration, it's super easy. I would recommend using that over MS, sadly.
M Rashid Raza 0 Reputation points

2025-05-08T17:18:22.7066667+00:00

Microsoft Auth wasted time of thousand of people on migration. It is not a good auth app at all.

Answer 1

Joel Magoun 81

Having to now to recreate MFA settings for 40+ accounts because of this laziness.

Lesson learned, do not use Microsoft Authenticator for TOTP codes.

When setting up MFA, best option seems to be to use more user friendly software like Bitwarden and store the TOTP codes in there. And then if you need Microsoft Authenticator features, then you can use the same TOTP code in authenticator.

This way when Authenticator shows you what a pile of trash it is, you can use the TOTP codes you saved in Bitwarden to re-create any accounts. Or just continue to use Bitwarden if all you need are one-time codes.

Get it together Microsoft.

richard robinson 6 Reputation points

2023-01-19T12:33:57.3666667+00:00

Yeah what a waste of space, Google Auth and all other 2FA apps work, only MS does not !!!
Matt Batten 0 Reputation points

2023-07-20T19:55:37.9366667+00:00

Lesson learned. Don't use MS authenticator. I have really struggled to recreate MFA for "joined" directories (e.g. azure portal, azure devops where I am a guest identity). As going on the MFA setup shows it for your primary organisation, not the one you're logged into.

From now on, I will always set up text message as well as that has been a huge savior during this transition.

Answer 2

Facing the same issue, and found the following information on the support site - "Back up and recover account credentials in the Authenticator app"

Changing operating systems: Your backup is stored in the iCloud for iOS and in Microsoft's cloud storage provider for Android. This means that your backup is unavailable if you switch between Android and iOS devices. If you make the switch, you must manually recreate your accounts within the Microsoft Authenticator app.

Looks like the only way is to recreate all authentication tokens ...

Answer 3

Quintero, Josue (External) 5

To “transfer” manually, you will have to register again on your new phone as you did on android.

On your iPhone click on “+” and add your account, it will ask for MFA that is on your android device.

So you give access on your android and can delete this account.

if you have other accounts just repeat the same process.

once you delete the account on your android device, try to access and it will request MFA on your iPhone.

it works viceversa.

hope it helps.

Answer 4

Eric FRIES 5

This is clearly the worst migration experience I had from android to iOS. Everyone but Microsoft seem to manage cross platform import/export, which is a mandatory feature for an Authenticator.

I had to recreate OTP accounts incl corporate ones, but of course on another Authenticator app.

Answer 5

Amine Semouma 36

Manually is the only way at the moment...

Share via

Transfer data of Microsoft authenticator from Android to Iphone

6 answers

Your answer