switch microsoft authenticator to new phone

If it’s an account with a major public service (e.g., Google, Facebook, Instagram) and your account is linked to your e-mail or phone number, you can easily restore access using an alternative authentication method. What you can do now is restore access to your account. If you’re not logged in elsewhere and you’ve lost the smartphone with the authenticator, done a factory reset, or had it stolen (basically, if you no longer have access to it), or if the above method didn’t work, you won’t be able to recover the authenticator. Recovering the authenticator without access to your account The option you need might simply not be operant on the device where you’re logged in. The problem is that not all services use the same settings in the Web version as in the mobile app.

Unfortunately, this method doesn’t always work. In that case, simply enter the secret key or scan the QR code in the authenticator app on the new device and you’re all set. Some (but not all) services even display the secret key or QR code of the authenticator in the settings. For example, this option works with Google accounts if you’re logged in to even one of the company’s apps, such as YouTube. The item you need is usually somewhere on the Security tab. Open your account settings and reset the authenticator - that is, link it to the app on the new phone. If you’re still logged in to the account on another device, you may be in luck. Recovering the authenticator if you are logged in to the account on another device If you no longer have access to the smartphone on which the authenticator app is installed, your next steps depend on whether you’re still signed in to the account you need to log in to on another device. Recovering the authenticator without access to your smartphone But what if your phone, and along with it the authenticator app, gets lost, broken, or stolen? In that case, you have several options. One of the most convenient 2FA methods is to use an app that generates one-time codes, such as Google Authenticator and the like. It is vital to protect accounts with two-factor authentication: If your password gets leaked (and leaks are very common), 2FA will safeguard your accounts against hacking.

Switch microsoft authenticator to new phone