Restoring MS Authenticator on a new device

Over the past month, I had to switch phones twice—once due to a hardware issue (phone no longer turns on) then I waited for the new Pixel 10 to come out, bought that, and had to switch again. For the most part, phone swaps are pretty smooth these days. Cloud backups take care of most everything.

One app category that’s an exception is my various 2FA apps. Microsoft Authenticator, in particular, for my work and personal accounts can be a bit confusing, I seem to re-create the process every time, so I’m memorializing my process for re-enabling Microsoft 365 or Azure AD accounts

Why This Matters

If you use Microsoft Authenticator for multi-factor authentication (MFA), switching phones without reconfiguring your accounts can lock you out of critical services. Thankfully, the process to reconnect is straightforward once you know where to go.

Step-by-Step: Reconnecting Microsoft Authenticator

1. Install the App

Download and install the Microsoft Authenticator app

2. Generate a New QR Code

On a computer where I’m already logged in:

3. Scan the QR Code

  • Use your phone to scan the QR code shown on your computer screen.
  • The account will be added to your Authenticator app.

Other Notes

  • Turn on backup for Authenticator: Enable cloud backup in the app settings. Even though each individual account will need to be re-enabled, this will ensure the full list of accounts shows up on the next device.
  • Keep the old phone (if possible) until the new one is fully set up. Setting up the second time was a lot quicker because I had the interim device (a Pixel 6)
  • Use a secondary method (like SMS or email) as a backup sign-in option. Again, this helps with the recovery process.