How to Back Up MS Authenticator

Protect Your Accounts

Before replacing or upgrading your device, we strongly recommend backing up your Microsoft Authenticator accounts. Creating a backup helps ensure you can restore your one-time password (OTP) accounts and maintain access to services that use multi-factor authentication. Follow the steps below for your device type to enable secure backup and recovery.

Android

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

Open Microsoft Authenticator.
Tap the three vertical dots in the upper right corner of the app.
Select Settings from the contextual menu.
Turn on the Cloud Backup toggle.
Select a Microsoft personal account where the backup will be stored.

iOS

To back up your accounts on an iOS device you need to enable iCloud to use Authenticator and then enable backup in Authenticator.

Enable iCloud Drive on your iOS device. Enable iCloud.
Enable iCloud Keychain on you iOS device. Enable iCloud Keychain.
Enable iCloud Backup on your iOS device. Enable iCloud Backup. Go to your Saved to iCloud list and search for Authenticator. How to choose which apps use iCloud.
Turn on the toggle for 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.

Please contact the help desk if you have any issues with MFA.

Help Desk Portal

Hours and Locations:

IT Services Help Desk is open Monday - Friday between 8:00 am - 4:00 pm EST

California

Natali Student Center, 1st Floor
724-938-5911

Clarion

309 Becht Hall
814-393-2640

Edinboro

Ross Hall Main Lobby
814-732-2111