Back up your accounts in Microsoft Authenticator

To back up your accounts on an iOS device you need to enable iCloud to use Authenticator and then enable backup in Authenticator.

1. Enable iCloud Drive on your iOS device. Learn how.

2. Enable iCloud Keychain on you iOS device. Learn how.

3. Enable iCloud Backup on your iOS device. Learn how.

   1. Go to your Saved to iCloud list and search for Authenticator. Learn how.
   2. Turn on the toggle for Authenticator.

More help with Authenticator backup

Which account types are backed up in Authenticator?

• Microsoft personal accounts
• Work or school accounts
• 3rd party accounts, such as Amazon, Facebook or Gmail.

What account information is backed up in Authenticator?

Microsoft personal accounts

• If the account only uses a one-time password code which refreshes every 30 seconds. The password codes will available once restored.
• If the account also provides passwordless sign-in, then only the account name is backed up. When you restore, you will need to sign in again.

Work or school accounts

• Only the account name is backed up. When you restore, you will need to sign in again.

3rd party accounts, such as Amazon, Facebook or Gmail.

• These accounts use a one-time password code which refreshes every 30 seconds. The password codes will available once restored.

I don’t see my backup restored on my new device. How can I troubleshoot?

On your old device:

1. Enable iCloud Drive on your iOS device. Learn how.

2. Enable iCloud Keychain on you iOS device. Learn how.

3. Enable iCloud Backup on your iOS device. Learn how.

   1. Go to your Saved to iCloud list and search for Authenticator. Learn how.
   2. Turn on the toggle for Authenticator.

4. Upgrade to Authenticator version 6.8.33 or later.

5. Open the app at least once before switching to your new phone.

On your new device:

1. Uninstall and reinstall the Authenticator app.
2. Your backup should now appear.

To back up your one-time password accounts on an Android device:

1. Open Microsoft Authenticator

2. Tap then Settings.

3. Turn on the  Cloud Backup toggle.

4. Select a Microsoft personal account where the backup will be stored.

   Note

   If you saved the backup to the wrong account, or need to change the recovery account, delete the existing backup and make a new one. 

5. Tap OK.

More help with Authenticator backup

Which account types are backed up in Authenticator?

• Microsoft personal accounts
• Work or school accounts
• 3rd party accounts, such as Amazon, Facebook or Gmail.

What account information is backed up in Authenticator?

Microsoft personal accounts

• If the account only uses a one-time password code which refreshes every 30 seconds. The password codes will available once restored.
• If the account also provides passwordless sign-in, then only the account name is backed up. When you restore, you will need to sign in again.

Work or school accounts

• Only the account name is backed up. When you restore, you will need to sign in again.

3rd party accounts, such as Amazon, Facebook or Gmail.

• These accounts use a one-time password code which refreshes every 30 seconds. The password codes will available once restored.

To delete a backup in Microsoft Authenticator

If you want to delete a backup, or if you signed in with the wrong backup account, follow these steps:

1. On your mobile device, open Authenticator , and select  then Settings.
2. Under Backup, turn off the  Cloud Backup toggle and select OK to delete the backup.
3. If you want to make a fresh backup, turn the  Cloud Backup toggle on again, and select Continue or Change account to sign in to the correct backup account.

"Something went wrong" message when trying to back up in Microsoft Authenticator

If you see the message "Something went wrong" when trying to back up your one-time password accounts, it's because you are not signed in.

1. On your mobile device, open Authenticator , and select  then Settings.
2. Under Backup, turn on the  Cloud Backup toggle and select Continue or Change account to sign in create a backup.