Need help with MS Authenticator

[Donnat]

While this is not exactly an outlook issue, it does involve the office suite, security and logging on.
Just got an Iphone 13 yesterday. I use MS Authenticator on my iphone and ipad. I see the instructions for how to set up the new device using backup, however, the backup is from my Ipad. When I turn MS authenticator backup on my phone, it says backup already exists and do I want to overwrite it.

I know by design, the app is not synced across devices for security reasons. But then, I should be able to backup both devices to iCloud. I don’t understand how this should work – if the backups aren’t identical, then I should be able to have two!

Fortunately, I only have 2 authenticator accounts. So – should I manually recreate those two accounts (Azure and Microsoft) on my iPhone?
And if so, should I delete the app from old iPhone before setting up manually on new one? Or just set up new iPhone and delete old when I wipe it clean?

Or, should I backup Authenticator on iPhone – it will overwrite the ipad backup. Restore on new iphone. Then backup the ipad again and overwrite the iphone backup?

I just don’t want to mess it up and potentially lose access and I don’t understand why I can only have one back up - should allow a back up for the iPhone and a back up for the iPad. thanks.

 

[Diane Poremsky]

But then, I should be able to backup both devices to iCloud. I don’t understand how this should work – if the backups aren’t identical, then I should be able to have two!

You can't.... you can only have one backup (yes, it sucks). I have 2 iPad and an iPhone. I only back up the phone as I consider it my main device. If you aren't careful, you'll lose everything restoring the backups - BTDT - I reset the phone and the authenticator backup only brought back 1 account. Fortunately, I didn't need it to get into most of my accounts and set it back up - and the others had options for support to disable 2FA so I could get in and set it up.

I would not mess with the backups - especially with only 2 accounts. I would add the two accounts to the app.

FWIW, I like the Microsoft authenticator app but only use it for my main Microsoft accounts (on business and personal side) - for everything else, I switched to Authy as it can sync to multiple devices, including my desktop.

As silly as it seems to have 3 different auth apps, I might try the google authenticator again - I like tapping to approve, not typing in a code.. and Authy only does the code.

 

[Donnat]

You can't.... you can only have one backup (yes, it sucks). I have 2 iPad and an iPhone. I only back up the phone as I consider it my main device. If you aren't careful, you'll lose everything restoring the backups - BTDT - I reset the phone and the authenticator backup only brought back 1 account. Fortunately, I didn't need it to get into most of my accounts and set it back up - and the others had options for support to disable 2FA so I could get in and set it up.

I would not mess with the backups - especially with only 2 accounts. I would add the two accounts to the app.

FWIW, I like the Microsoft authenticator app but only use it for my main Microsoft accounts (on business and personal side) - for everything else, I switched to Authy as it can sync to multiple devices, including my desktop.

As silly as it seems to have 3 different auth apps, I might try the google authenticator again - I like tapping to approve, not typing in a code.. and Authy only does the code.

You can't.... you can only have one backup (yes, it sucks). I have 2 iPad and an iPhone. I only back up the phone as I consider it my main device. If you aren't careful, you'll lose everything restoring the backups - BTDT - I reset the phone and the authenticator backup only brought back 1 account. Fortunately, I didn't need it to get into most of my accounts and set it back up - and the others had options for support to disable 2FA so I could get in and set it up.

I would not mess with the backups - especially with only 2 accounts. I would add the two accounts to the app.

FWIW, I like the Microsoft authenticator app but only use it for my main Microsoft accounts (on business and personal side) - for everything else, I switched to Authy as it can sync to multiple devices, including my desktop.

As silly as it seems to have 3 different auth apps, I might try the google authenticator again - I like tapping to approve, not typing in a code.. and Authy only does the code.

You can't.... you can only have one backup (yes, it sucks). I have 2 iPad and an iPhone. I only back up the phone as I consider it my main device. If you aren't careful, you'll lose everything restoring the backups - BTDT - I reset the phone and the authenticator backup only brought back 1 account. Fortunately, I didn't need it to get into most of my accounts and set it back up - and the others had options for support to disable 2FA so I could get in and set it up.

I would not mess with the backups - especially with only 2 accounts. I would add the two accounts to the app.

FWIW, I like the Microsoft authenticator app but only use it for my main Microsoft accounts (on business and personal side) - for everything else, I switched to Authy as it can sync to multiple devices, including my desktop.

As silly as it seems to have 3 different auth apps, I might try the google authenticator again - I like tapping to approve, not typing in a code.. and Authy only does the code.

Thanks Diane. So I will manually add the two accounts to MS Authenticator on the new iPhone. Should I delete the accounts from the old iPhone first? Will it cause problems to have the same MS Authenticator accounts on two phones? I am going to wipe the old iPhone clean and trade it in, so everything willl eventually be deleted, but if I have to delete the accounts, I will.

 

[Diane Poremsky]

Should I delete the accounts from the old iPhone first? Will it cause problems to have the same MS Authenticator accounts on two phones?

No need to delete it from the other phone- and no, it won't make a difference. Both should work - handy if one phone isn't around. (assuming you are keeping it)

 

[Donnat]

No need to delete it from the other phone- and no, it won't make a difference. Both should work - handy if one phone isn't around. (assuming you are keeping it)

Thank you!