Changed phone now cant access accounts

lorraine parker 0 Reputation points
2026-11-12T14:58:59.36+00:00

I have changed my phone and transferred over everything but the links on authenticator app. How do I set them back up without QR codes.

Microsoft Security | Microsoft Authenticator
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  1. Vasileios Dionysopoulos 821 Reputation points
    2026-11-12T21:00:03.3933333+00:00

    Hi Lorraine,

    If your old phone still works (or had backup turned on):

    1. On the old phone: Authenticator → Settings → Backup. Turn on cloud backup (iCloud on iPhone, a personal Microsoft account on Android).
    2. On the new phone: install Authenticator fresh, and before adding any account tap Begin recovery / Restore from backup. Sign in with the same account used for the backup.

    This only works phone-to-phone on the same platform (iPhone → iPhone or Android → Android). Work or school accounts may ask you to verify again after the restore.

    If you can't restore, re-add each account without a QR code:

    1. Sign in to the account's website and open its security settings:
      • Personal Microsoft account: account.microsoft.com → Security → Advanced security options → Add a new way to sign in
      • Work or school account: https://aka.ms/mysecurityinfo → Add sign-in method → Authenticator app
      • Other sites: their "two-factor" or "authenticator app" setting
    2. When the QR code appears, select "Can't scan?" or "Enter code manually" to show a setup key.
    3. In Authenticator: + → Other account (or the account type) → Enter code manually, and type the name and the key.

    If a site won't let you in because the old phone is gone, use that site's backup method (text message, email or recovery codes) first.

    If this gets you back in, please mark it as accepted so others can find it.

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