Back up your accounts in Microsoft Authenticator

Summary

This article describes how to back up information on all the accounts you have in Authenticator so that if you lose your mobile or get a new device, you can sign in to restore previously saved accounts, making it easy to access sites or services.

How to back up accounts in Microsoft Authenticator

Important

You can only backup and restore on the same device type: accounts backed up using an iOS device cannot be restored on an Android device.

To back up your one-time password accounts on an Android device:

  1. Open Microsoft Authenticator

  2. Tap then Settings.

  3. Turn on the  Cloud Backup toggle.

  4. Select a Microsoft personal account where the backup will be stored.

    Note

    • If you saved the backup to the wrong account, or need to change the recovery account, delete the existing backup and make a new one.
    • Starting January 2027, you will no longer use your Microsoft personal account to enable backup. You will need to enable "Microsoft Authenticator" from Google One backup. Learn more about backup with Google One.

  5. Tap OK.

More help with Authenticator backup

What account information is backed up in Authenticator?

  • Microsoft personal accounts

    • If the account only uses a one-time password code which refreshes every 30 seconds. The password codes will available once restored.
    • If the account also provides passwordless sign-in, then only the account name is backed up. When you restore, you will need to sign in again.

  • Work or school accounts

    • Only the account name is backed up. When you restore, you will need to sign in again.

  • 3rd party accounts, such as Amazon, Facebook or Gmail

    • These accounts use a one-time password code which refreshes every 30 seconds. The password codes will available once restored.

To delete a backup in Microsoft Authenticator

If you want to delete a backup, or if you signed in with the wrong backup account, follow these steps:

  1. On your mobile device, open Authenticator , and select  then Settings.
  2. Under Backup, turn off the  Cloud Backup toggle and select OK to delete the backup.
  3. If you want to make a fresh backup, turn the  Cloud Backup toggle on again, and select Continue or Change account to sign in to the correct backup account.

"Something went wrong" message when trying to back up in Microsoft Authenticator

If you see the message "Something went wrong" when trying to back up your one-time password accounts, it's because you are not signed in.

  1. On your mobile device, open Authenticator , and select  then Settings.
  2. Under Backup, turn on the  Cloud Backup toggle and select Continue or Change account to sign in and create a backup.

See also

Download Microsoft Authenticator

How to add your accounts to Microsoft Authenticator

Restore account credentials

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