Transferring MS Authenticator to a new phone

[Jam Sandwich]

Anyone done this recently...just been browsing about trying to find info and seems its a pretty hit and miss affair?
I thought I would be a simple back up on the old phone and a restore on the new one but it appears more complicated?

Its Android to Android.

 

[WAslayer]

Switch to Google authenticator.. don't need to do anything special when moving phones..

 

[Fulcrum29]

Just set up your backup account.

 

[Jam Sandwich]

Switch to Google authenticator.. don't need to do anything special when moving phones..

Is that able to import accounts from MS Auth or would I have to redo everything?

 

[WAslayer]

Is that able to import accounts from MS Auth or would I have to redo everything?

MS doesn't allow an export in this way, it will be a manual effort..

 

[Jam Sandwich]

Would authenticator still work if I keep it on my old phone and just use the wifi for connectivity?

 

[Smiggles]

Backup to Google drive and then restore in new phone? Then move to something without Microsoft in the name.

 

[Segg]

Backup to google drive and restore, ez pz

 

[swakop_toe]

Backup to google drive and restore, ez pz

Have you successfully performed this?
I am 3 Android phones later, 164 Microsoft Authenticator accounts later and every time I had to go through authenticating each account again.
With a backup account.
It gets worse.
You have several WORK accounts, individually registered in MS Edge.
New laptop, sync configured.
It does not sync those accounts.
Oh, but wait, you are forced to upgrade the hardware to comply to Windows11.
No sync. Weeks of authentication...

 

[SauRoNZA]

Would authenticator still work if I keep it on my old phone and just use the wifi for connectivity?

Yes.

But also just backup via the built in mechanism, install on the other one and sync.

There’s no hit and miss here.

If it’s just TOTP you don’t even need internet, so it really depends on what you are authenticating.

 

[Rickster]

Switch to Google authenticator.. don't need to do anything special when moving phones..

This, the MS Authenticator is just useless when trying to move it to a new phone.

 

[Segg]

Have you successfully performed this?
I am 3 Android phones later, 164 Microsoft Authenticator accounts later and every time I had to go through authenticating each account again.
With a backup account.
It gets worse.
You have several WORK accounts, individually registered in MS Edge.
New laptop, sync configured.
It does not sync those accounts.
Oh, but wait, you are forced to upgrade the hardware to comply to Windows11.
No sync. Weeks of authentication...

Yes I have, and as recently as last week infact. The trick with the process is restoring from the backup as the very first step, even before signing in.

 

[Jam Sandwich]

Yes I have, and as recently as last week infact. The trick with the process is restoring from the backup as the very first step, even before signing in.

So i back up on the old phone.. Download the app on the new one and just select restore on the new one? If it arses about can i still use the authenticator on the old phone?

 

[Smiggles]

So i back up on the old phone.. Download the app on the new one and just select restore on the new one? If it arses about can i still use the authenticator on the old phone?

How to Back Up and Restore Microsoft Authenticator* to a New Phone

How to enable cloud backups in Microsoft Authenticator* on your old phone to transfer your multi-factor accounts to your new phone easily.

www.intel.com

 

[Segg]

So i back up on the old phone.. Download the app on the new one and just select restore on the new one? If it arses about can i still use the authenticator on the old phone?

I'm not sure about using it on the old phone, but yes that's the process. The restore option is presented in rather small text at the bottom of the launch screen when you open the app, it will then redirect you to sign into or grant access to your google account.

 

[Jam Sandwich]

I'm not sure about using it on the old phone, but yes that's the process. The restore option is presented in rather small text at the bottom of the launch screen when you open the app, it will then redirect you to sign into or grant access to your google account.

Did it your way and no issues, just one account needs verfying. Not a big deal.