How to Back up your accounts in Microsoft Authenticator

You can back up your Microsoft Authenticator accounts to the cloud, allowing you to restore them to a new device. Microsoft Authenticator uses end-to-end encryption to safeguard your account credentials.

This feature is crucial if you lose your phone or upgrade to a new one, ensuring you regain access to your protected online services without manual re-entry.

Backups are tied to your personal Microsoft account (MSA) or Azure Active Directory (AAD) account. A backup is only compatible with the same type of account on the new device. For instance, an MSA backup can only restore to an MSA-enabled Authenticator app.

Backing Up Your Accounts on an iOS Device

If you use an iPhone or iPad, you’ll use iCloud to store your Authenticator backup. This keeps your two-factor authentication codes and account details safe.

Step 1: Enable iCloud Drive

Before you back up in the Authenticator app, make sure iCloud Drive is turned on for your iOS device. This is where the app will save your backup data.

• Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
• Tap on your Apple ID banner at the top.
• Select iCloud.
• Turn the switch for iCloud Drive on. It should turn green.

Tip: If iCloud Drive is already on, you don’t need to do anything. Move on to the next step.

Step 2: Enable iCloud Keychain

iCloud Keychain safely stores your passwords and other important information on your Apple devices. It doesn’t directly store Authenticator codes, but it’s part of the iCloud backup system that Authenticator uses.

• Go back to the main Settings screen.
• Tap on your Apple ID banner.
• Select iCloud.
• Find Passwords & Keychain (or just Keychain on older iOS versions) and turn it on.

Warning: If you are asked to merge your iCloud data, it is usually safe to do so. This helps everything sync. If you are unsure, check Apple’s help pages.

Step 3: Enable iCloud Backup

This backs up your whole device. Authenticator’s backup feature uses this to save its data.

• Go to Settings > your Apple ID > iCloud.
• Scroll down and tap on iCloud Backup.
• Make sure the iCloud Backup switch is on.

Practical Tip: iCloud backups usually happen when your device is connected to Wi-Fi, charging, and locked. You can also tap Back Up Now to start a backup right away.

Step 4: Enable Authenticator in Your iCloud Saved List

Now, you need to tell iCloud to include Microsoft Authenticator’s data in its backups.

• Go to Settings > your Apple ID > iCloud.
• Under “Apps Using iCloud,” you might need to tap Show All to see the full list.
• Look for Authenticator and make sure its switch is on (green).

Important Note: If you don’t see Authenticator in this list, make sure you have the latest version of the app. Sometimes, after a big app update, you might need to turn this setting back on.

Backing Up Your Accounts on an Android Device

For Android users, Microsoft Authenticator uses its own cloud backup. It usually saves your data to your personal Microsoft account. This is simpler than the iOS method.

Step 1: Open Authenticator Settings

Open the app and let’s find the backup options.

• Open the Microsoft Authenticator app on your Android device.
• Tap the three lines (hamburger menu) in the top-left corner.
• Select Settings from the menu.

Step 2: Turn On Cloud Backup

This is the main switch for the backup feature.

• In the Settings menu, find the Cloud Backup toggle.
• Tap the toggle to turn it on. It should change color (like green or blue) to show it’s active.

Step 3: Select Your Backup Account

The app needs to know which personal Microsoft account to use for your backup. You’ll be asked to choose one if you haven’t already.

• If you haven’t set up a backup account before, you’ll be asked to select one. Choose the personal Microsoft account you want to use.
• If you have an existing backup, you might see an option to Change account or confirm the current one.
• Tap OK to confirm your choice and start the backup.

Warning: Make sure you choose a personal Microsoft account that you can access and will use for recovery. If you pick the wrong account, you’ll need to delete the old backup and make a new one.

Tip: It’s a good idea to check your backup status sometimes. The app should show when the last backup happened. If it seems stuck or hasn’t updated in a while, you might need to start it again or check your internet connection.

Summary

Taking a few minutes to back up your Microsoft Authenticator accounts can save you a lot of time and stress later. Whether you use iOS or Android, the process is designed to be quite simple. This ensures you can get back into your important online services if something happens to your device. Remember that you can only restore backups to the same type of device, and you’ll be ready for anything.