Moving your authenticator to a new phone requires you to save backup codes before you switch devices

When you set up two-factor authentication on an account, the authenticator app generates codes that only exist on that one phone. If you get a new phone without transferring the authenticator first, you will lose access to those codes and may be locked out of your accounts. The solution is to save your backup codes before you switch phones, then add your accounts to the authenticator on your new device.

The exact steps depend on which authenticator app you use and which accounts you are protecting. Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, and Authy all work differently. Some accounts let you generate new backup codes; others let you turn off two-factor authentication temporarily and turn it back on with a new device.

Key Takeaways

  • Save your backup codes for each account before you switch phones — these codes let you sign in if you lose access to your authenticator.
  • Google Authenticator does not back up codes to the cloud, so you must manually transfer each account or use a different app that does.
  • Authy and Microsoft Authenticator can back up your codes automatically, making transfers to a new phone much simpler.
  • If you have already switched phones and lost your authenticator, you can usually turn off two-factor authentication using a backup code or recovery email.

Save your backup codes before you switch phones

When you first turn on two-factor authentication for an account, the service shows you a list of backup codes. These are one-time passwords that work if you cannot access your authenticator app. Most people skip past this screen, but you need to save these codes before you get a new phone.

Open the account settings for each service you use two-factor authentication with — Gmail, Microsoft, Facebook, Apple, your bank, or any other account. Look for a section called "Security," "Two-Factor Authentication," "Two-Step Verification," or "Account Recovery." Find the option to view or download backup codes. Write them down on paper, take a screenshot, or save them in a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password. Store them somewhere you can reach them even if you lose your phone.

If you already set up two-factor authentication and never saved the backup codes, you can usually generate a new set from the same security settings. The old codes will stop working once you create new ones.

Transfer Google Authenticator to your new phone

Google Authenticator does not automatically back up your codes to the cloud. If you switch phones, you have two options: transfer each account manually, or switch to an authenticator app that does back up automatically.

To transfer manually, open Google Authenticator on your old phone and tap the account you want to move. Tap the three dots in the top right corner and select "Show setup key." A QR code will appear. On your new phone, open Google Authenticator, tap the plus sign, and select "Enter a setup key." Type in the setup key from your old phone, or scan the QR code if you can use another device to photograph it. Repeat this for each account.

This method works but is slow if you have many accounts. A faster option is to switch to Authy or Microsoft Authenticator before you get a new phone, since both apps back up your codes automatically. You can add your existing accounts to Authy or Microsoft Authenticator on your old phone, then sign in to the same account on your new phone and your codes will transfer automatically.

Transfer Authy to your new phone

Authy backs up your authenticator codes to Authy's servers, encrypted with a password you set. This means you can sign into Authy on a new phone and your codes will appear automatically.

On your old phone, open Authy and make sure you have set a backup password. Tap the menu icon in the top left, select "Settings," then "Backups." Toggle "Multi-Device" on if it is not already. You will be asked to create a backup password — write this down or save it in a password manager.

On your new phone, download Authy and sign in with the same email address and phone number you used on your old phone. Authy will ask for your backup password. Enter it, and your codes will appear on the new phone. You can then delete Authy from your old phone if you want.

Transfer Microsoft Authenticator to your new phone

Microsoft Authenticator also backs up your codes automatically if you sign in with a Microsoft account. On your old phone, open Microsoft Authenticator, tap the menu icon, and go to "Settings." Make sure "Cloud backup" is turned on. Your codes will be encrypted and stored on Microsoft's servers.

On your new phone, download Microsoft Authenticator and sign in with the same Microsoft account. Your codes will download automatically. If you use Microsoft Authenticator for non-Microsoft accounts, those codes will also transfer as long as cloud backup is enabled.

If you do not have a Microsoft account, you can still use Microsoft Authenticator, but your codes will not back up automatically. In that case, you will need to manually transfer each account the same way you would with Google Authenticator.

What to do if you already switched phones and lost your authenticator

If you have already moved to a new phone and cannot access your authenticator codes, you can still regain access to your accounts using a backup code. Find the backup codes you saved earlier and use one of them to sign in. The code will work even though you do not have the authenticator app anymore.

If you did not save backup codes, look for a "Can't access your authenticator?" or "Trouble signing in?" link on the login page. Most services will let you verify your identity using a recovery email address or phone number, then turn off two-factor authentication. Once you are back in your account, you can set up two-factor authentication again on your new phone.

Some accounts have a recovery phone number or recovery email that you set up when you first enabled two-factor authentication. If you can access that email or phone, the service can send you a code to sign in without your authenticator. Check your account recovery settings to see what options are available.

Choosing an authenticator app for easier transfers

If you plan to switch phones in the future, choosing the right authenticator app now will save you time later. Google Authenticator is simple and secure but requires manual transfers. Authy and Microsoft Authenticator both back up automatically, which means you can sign into them on a new phone and your codes will appear without any extra work.

Bitwarden and 1Password are password managers that also include authenticator features. If you already use one of these for passwords, adding your authenticator codes to the same app means everything transfers together when you switch phones. The trade-off is that you are storing all your security codes in one place, which is riskier if someone gains access to your password manager.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same authenticator code on two phones at once?

No. An authenticator code is tied to one device. If you add the same account to two phones, each phone will generate different codes. Only the code from the phone you designated when you set up two-factor authentication will work. This is why you need to transfer your authenticator before you switch phones — the old phone's codes will stop working once you add the account to a new device.

What if I lose my backup codes?

You can generate new backup codes from your account security settings. Sign in to the account on a computer or another device, go to the two-factor authentication settings, and look for an option to generate new codes. The old codes will stop working. If you cannot sign in at all, use the account recovery process — usually a recovery email or phone number — to regain access, then generate new codes.

Do I need to turn off two-factor authentication to switch phones?

No. You can transfer your authenticator codes to your new phone while two-factor authentication is still active. The only time you need to turn it off is if you have lost access to your authenticator and cannot find a backup code or recovery method. In that case, use your recovery email or phone to sign in, then turn off two-factor authentication temporarily while you set it up again on your new phone.

Will my authenticator codes work if I restore from a phone backup?

It depends on the app. If you restore an iPhone from an iCloud backup or an Android phone from a Google backup, Google Authenticator codes will restore if the app was backed up. Authy and Microsoft Authenticator will restore and sync automatically because they back up to their own servers. To be safe, do not rely on phone backups alone — manually transfer your authenticator codes or use an app that backs up to the cloud.

Can I add my accounts to a new authenticator app without the setup key?

Not directly. You need either the setup key or the QR code that was shown when you first set up two-factor authentication. If you do not have either, you will need to turn off two-factor authentication for that account, then turn it back on to get a new setup key and QR code. This is why saving your backup codes is important — they let you sign in while you are setting up two-factor authentication again.