I have lost access to my 2FA One time passcodes after changing to my new phone! My old phone data has already been erased. Can I get it back?

Question

I have recently changed to a new iPhone. I stupidly forgot to check whether the authenticator data has switched over and unlucky for me it hadn't. I am logged in on my new phone but the one time passwords have not appeared. I can provide more detail if necessary. Can anybody help me out with this please?

Answer 1

Hey there, sorry to hear about your missing one-time passcodes! There are a few approaches you can take to get your Authenticator app working again: Check if you enabled Cloud Backup

On your old iPhone (if you still have it):

1. Open Microsoft Authenticator.
2. Go to Settings (the gear icon) → Backup.
3. Make sure Cloud Backup is turned on (this uses your iCloud account).

On your new iPhone:

1. Install/open Microsoft Authenticator.
2. Sign in with the same Apple ID you used on your old device.
3. The app will prompt you to Restore from your iCloud backup if available.

If backup wasn’t enabled on your old device, you won’t see the restore option.

2. Try “Recovery” or Alternate Verification

For each of your accounts (e.g., Outlook, Microsoft 365, etc.), there’s usually an alternative verification option such as an email or phone number.

Go to the website where you normally log in, and look for “Having trouble signing in?” or “Use a different verification” link.

Use that method to sign in, then set up Microsoft Authenticator from scratch on your new iPhone.

3. Contact Your Admin or Provider

If this is for a work or school account, contact your IT admin. They can reset your Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) settings, allowing you to enroll the new phone.

For personal Microsoft accounts, go to https://account.live.com/Proofs/Manage (if you can sign in) and remove the old Authenticator device. Then choose Set up a new Authenticator to scan the QR code from the new phone.

4. Set up Cloud Backup Going Forward

Once you’re back in, definitely enable Cloud Backup (iPhone) or Cloud Recovery (Android) in the Authenticator app. This way, when you switch phones in the future, you’ll simply restore from backup.

If you’re totally locked out of all services and you don’t have any recovery methods, you may need to file a support ticket with Microsoft or your organization’s admin. Hope that helps—let us know if you have any questions or run into any trouble!