DESPERATE FOR HELP!! Can't access my 2FA for Twitter anymore with the Authenticator app!!

Question

DESPERATE FOR HELP!! Can't access my 2FA for Twitter anymore with the Authenticator app!!

Leina 1

UPDATE: Crisis averted, I was able to get back in thanks to Twitter's help. Thank you @Anonymous for your help!

I set up Twitter's 2 Step Authentication on my Twitter account about 2/3 weeks ago. I'd never had it prior, but wanted extra security so I set it up. I scanned the code on the Authenticator app and entered the one time password I got from Twitter. I knew I was going to be getting a new phone soon, so I made sure to backup the Authenticator app to my iCloud. I assumed it was like every other app and didn't need a special encryption in order to save my account key. I thought it was all done in the iCloud settings itself, like if it was checked off like all my other apps, then surely it'd be safely transfered. I had absolutely NO way of knowing it would need a backup on the app itself because I never got a prior warning, nor did I know I'd need to specifically look that information up. I had no idea until it was too late. A few hours ago, I got my new phone and everything went great because I had all of my stuff backed up to my iCloud. The Authenticator app was saved, so I assumed it would still have my account key for my Twitter account saved to it as well. It did NOT. Now I have absolutely NO way of getting into my Twitter account. I do not have any of my backup codes saved, which is my own fault I know, but I just completely forgot to do that. I have no idea what to do next and I'm absolutely terrified I've just lost my Twitter account. I've contacted Twitter Support, but I haven't heard back yet. Please help me if you can.

2 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Anonymous

You can recover your account credentials from your cloud account, but you must first make sure that the account you're recovering doesn't exist in the Microsoft Authenticator app. For example, if you're recovering your personal Microsoft account, you must make sure you don't have a personal Microsoft account already set up in the authenticator app. This check is important so we can be sure we're not overwriting or erasing an existing account by mistake.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/back-up-and-recover-account-credentials-in-the-authenticator-app-bb939936-7a8d-4e88-bc43-49bc1a700a40

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

Leina 1 Reputation point

2021-12-12T00:35:59.797+00:00

@Anonymous Okay so upon discovering that apparently iCloud backup only works if you already have a Microsoft account set up (which I previously did not as I was only using the Authenticator app as a 2FA for my Twitter account), I made a Microsoft account thinking maybe I'd gain access to my Cloud. It didn't work, as all I did was make an entirely new account which wasn't link to my Twitter since this happened after-the-fact. Even when selecting the "backup recovery" option when I first opened the Authenticator app after receiving my new phone, it would only let me if I had a Microsoft account previously. So it seemed very much like I was in a catch-22. What should I do now? I hope I explained everything properly.
Leina 1 Reputation point

2021-12-12T00:36:38.567+00:00

@Anonymous I can provide screenshots and whatnot if I need to, just so you can see what I mean.

Answer 2

Anonymous

If there isn't a backup then it sounds like you may be left with the service provider's methods of recovery.
https://help.twitter.com/en/forms/account-access/regain-access/2fa-problem

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

Leina 1 Reputation point

2021-12-12T01:39:11.667+00:00

Oh, so the account it's tied to? So the service provider would be Twitter in this case, then?
Anonymous

2021-12-12T01:54:07.49+00:00

Yes, that's correct. You can start the process here.
https://help.twitter.com/en/forms/account-access/regain-access/2fa-problem

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--
Leina 1 Reputation point

2021-12-12T02:06:35.243+00:00

Thank you, I've already submitted a ticket with Twitter support and am just now waiting on a reply. Is there nothing I can do with the Authenticator app though? Did it not at all get backed up despite it saying it did (under my iCloud on my phone, at least)?
Anonymous

2021-12-12T02:28:39.32+00:00

If you did have a backup then you must first make sure that the account you're recovering doesn't exist in the Microsoft Authenticator app. For example, if you're recovering your personal Microsoft account, you must make sure you don't have a personal Microsoft account already set up in the authenticator app. This check is important so we can be sure we're not overwriting or erasing an existing account by mistake.

More details here.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/back-up-and-recover-account-credentials-in-the-authenticator-app-bb939936-7a8d-4e88-bc43-49bc1a700a40

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--
Leina 1 Reputation point

2021-12-12T02:43:21.29+00:00

Okay. Thanks again. I assume I would know by now if I could even recover my account? Like, considering the iCloud backup part here wasn't checked off (because I didn't know it had to be at all).
Anonymous

2021-12-12T02:45:20.54+00:00

Yes, correct.
Leina 1 Reputation point

2021-12-12T02:50:13.517+00:00

Okay. See, this is where I got confused because this is under my iCloud. So I just assumed that it would transfer over with key still intact but I was horribly wrong. Have you seen anything like this before?
Anonymous

2021-12-12T02:52:35.47+00:00

You'll have better luck asking in apple forums about iphone settings and setup.

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--
Leina 1 Reputation point

2021-12-12T03:14:35.093+00:00

I'll try there too because I'm incredibly desperate at this point. Have you seen other people have this problem wit the Authenticator app? I'm just hoping there's an end to this that doesn't result in my being locked out of my Twitter forever.
Anonymous

2021-12-12T03:16:17.587+00:00

Yes, just look through this forum. It happens for various reasons.
Leina 1 Reputation point

2021-12-12T03:26:49.987+00:00

And, as far as Twitter's concerned, is there a still a chance I can get back into my Twitter account?
Anonymous

2021-12-12T03:28:42.177+00:00

Well they seem to have the mechanism in place so I'd expect so as long as you can prove your identity to them.

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--
Leina 1 Reputation point

2021-12-12T03:31:53.973+00:00

I hope I can. I've had my phone number in my account before, but not currently because I set up the 2FA so it's not currently in there, but I'd assume they could see from backlogs or whatever that it has been. I sound like I'm really grasping for straws because I kinda am. I just know I'm in a definite catch-22. I don't suppose you have any tech background when it comes to apps/stuff like that?
Anonymous

2021-12-12T03:34:59.303+00:00

Not sure what you're asking, it looks pretty straight forward to me, just initiate the recovery request here and wait for them to get back to you.
https://help.twitter.com/en/forms/account-access/regain-access/2fa-problem

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--
Leina 1 Reputation point

2021-12-12T03:41:53.03+00:00

I mean that, to them, they could see me as a potential hacker trying to get through the 2FA. I can absolutely verify with my phone number because I am the account owner, but I don't have my phone number in my Twitter account. I was just wondering if you have any idea how Twitter/their support team works because right now, I'm really just waiting this out until they reply to my request.
Anonymous

2021-12-12T03:44:07.7+00:00

Yea, that's all you can do is wait. The more info within your account the easier it will be to do the verification.

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--
Leina 1 Reputation point

2021-12-12T04:17:32.903+00:00

Very true. What I meant with the backlogs is I would hope that they could possibly see my number was once in my account. I of course have my email address available that I used to make the account, but I'm not sure if that's strong enough or enough.
Anonymous

2021-12-12T13:43:51.073+00:00

Just checking if there's any progress or updates?

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

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DESPERATE FOR HELP!! Can't access my 2FA for Twitter anymore with the Authenticator app!!

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