How to Transfer Office 365 Two-Factor Authentication to a New Phone

Overview

When you get a new phone, you will need to transfer your Office 365 two-factor authentication (2FA) to it. The Microsoft Authenticator app supports cloud backup, making this transfer straightforward if you set it up on your old phone first.

Step 1 — Enable Cloud Backup on Your Old Phone

1. Open the Microsoft Authenticator app on your old phone.
2. Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner and go to Settings.
3. Enable Cloud Backup (iCloud Backup on iPhone, Google Account Backup on Android).
4. Wait for the backup to complete.

Step 2 — Set Up Authenticator on Your New Phone

1. Download and install Microsoft Authenticator from the App Store or Google Play on your new phone.
2. Open the app and tap Begin Recovery when prompted.
3. Sign in with your Microsoft (Office 365) account — your backed-up accounts will restore automatically.
4. Verify your identity by approving a notification sent to your old phone or email.

Step 3 — Verify the Transfer

1. Open Outlook or another Office 365 app on a browser and sign in.
2. When prompted for 2FA, approve the request using the Authenticator app on your new phone.
3. Once confirmed, you can safely remove the app from your old phone.

Troubleshooting

• No backup available? You will need to re-add each account manually. Contact IT to reset your 2FA enrollment.
• Can't sign in to recover? Submit an IT ticket — IT can reset your MFA so you can re-enroll.

Related Articles

• How to Set Up Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) on a New Phone
• Guide to Resetting Your Office 365 Password and Setting Up Two-Factor Authentication

Contact IT Support

If you continue to experience issues, please reach out to the RCS IT Help Desk:

• Submit a ticket through the IT Help Desk Portal
• Email: helpdesk@redlandschristian.org

Keywords: 2FA, two-factor authentication, MFA, Microsoft Authenticator, new phone, transfer, Office 365

RCS Information Technology · IT Help Center