Luckily, Microsoft lets you backup your 2FA (two-factor authentication) account data to a cloud server, and then transfer that data to your new device. This tutorial will walk you through the whole process. However, there is a significant limitation; you can only transfer Microsoft Authenticator between phones on the same platform. In other words, you can’t move your accounts from iPhone to Android or vice versa.
Upload Your Microsoft Authenticator Data on Your Old Phone to the Cloud
You must begin by backing up Microsoft Authenticator on your old phone to the cloud. The app provides a built-in option that helps you accomplish that. Even if you don’t plan to switch to a new phone, it’s a good idea to back up your accounts. That allows you to restore them if you lose your phone or encounter a hardware failure. If you use an iPhone, the data is uploaded to iCloud and secured with your Microsoft Account credentials. On Android phones, the information is stored on Microsoft’s online servers. Note: If you have trouble backing up Microsoft Authenticator on an iPhone, open the Settings app for iOS, tap Apple ID > iCloud, and ensure that the switch next to Authenticator is active.
Transfer Microsoft Authenticator to the New Phone
You’re ready to transfer your Microsoft Authenticator data to your new phone. Do not remove any accounts or the app from the old phone yet.
If you’re moving to a new iPhone, make sure to sign into the device with the same Apple ID as your old iPhone. That is not an issue on Android—you can use a different Google Account if you want.
Once you’ve done that:
You’ve finished moving Microsoft Authenticator. However, some accounts may require additional verification before they work on the new device.
Scroll through your list of accounts and tap on any item that says Attention Required. Then, input relevant security info (password, phone number, backup code, etc.) or scan a QR code after signing into the account’s security management screen.
Remove Microsoft Authenticator From Your Old Phone
If the accounts in Microsoft Authenticator work correctly on your new phone, it’s time to remove them from the old phone. That eliminates the security risk of receiving verification codes on multiple devices.
To delete an Authenticator account:
If you want, you can follow up by removing the Microsoft Authenticator app itself from the old phone.
Can You Transfer Microsoft Authenticator From iPhone to Android or Vice Versa?
Microsoft Authentication for iPhone uses iCloud as the storage location for its data backups, so you can’t transfer data between iOS to an Android device or the other way around over the cloud. In that case, your only option is to sign into the new phone with your Microsoft Account credentials, authenticate it with 2FA from your old phone, a recovery code, or text message, and manually re-add your accounts. If you prefer an authentication tool that provides account transfers between platforms, check Google Authenticator.
