Microsoft Authenticator Unable to Access iCloud

WilliamBrinker-6633 6

I had to reset my Microsoft Authenticator App on iOS 15 and when I try to recover from iCloud, it states "Unable to access iCloud. Make sure you're logged in and have iCloud Drive enabled." iCloud is signed in on my phone, I can access iCloud files, the backup is in iCloud and has worked in the past when recovering. I just re-downloaded the app so it better be on the latest version. I don't even see an option to try and use a different cloud location.

Jim Epes 0 Reputation points

2023-10-28T20:17:34.9466667+00:00

I had continued issues, even after making sure iCloud Drive was enabled, the specific Authenticator app was set to back up to iCloud and I relaunched the backup process on the old phone. This time I got a "something went wrong / log a ticket and send logs" message.

By trial and error, I figured out that my old phone still had several Authenticator work profiles that had been set up the company IT admin, via Intune, MS Defender or something else. I used to work at MSFT and while the phone was my personal phone, the company also installed stuff to protect work email and files. After I deleted those defunct work profiles, the Authenticator backup worked fine and it copied to the new phone (which has no work profiles) just fine.

Microsoft Help and Learn really should add a use case where a user is migrating a phone that they used to use for work, to a new phone where they have left that company.

6 answers

Dave Patrick 426.2K Reputation points MVP

2022-01-13T22:04:12.523+00:00

This may be a known issue with IOS 13+
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/common-problems-with-the-microsoft-authenticator-app-12d283d1-bcef-4875-9ae5-ac360e2945dd

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/authentication/how-to-migrate-mfa-server-to-azure-mfa

Also try using the Get Help app here to chat online with someone
https://support.microsoft.com/ContactUs

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--
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WilliamBrinker-6633 6 Reputation points

2022-01-14T21:26:22.423+00:00

Sorry for the no response. I'll try to take a look at these and see if they help. Thanks for your help.

Dave Patrick 426.2K Reputation points MVP

2022-01-14T22:00:27.263+00:00

Sounds good.
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Microsoft Authenticator Unable to Access iCloud

6 answers