With the release of the newest iPhone and Android models, many people are seeking to upgrade their phones. Upgrading your phone is an exciting experience, but it's also important to remember that if you're using two-factor authentication, you need to transfer your Authenticator tokens before you make the switch. In this blog post, we'll look at why transferring your Authenticator tokens is so important and how you can do it.
What Are Authentication Tokens?
Authentication tokens is a two-factor authentication (2FA) system that adds an extra layer of security when accessing sensitive accounts like email accounts, online banking, or social media profiles. This form of 2FA works by having the user enter a time-based one-time password (TOTP) code in addition to their username and password before logging into their account. An authenticator app like Microsoft or Google Authenticator generates this code on a mobile device.
Why Should You Backup and Transfer Your Tokens?
Transferring your authenticator tokens from one device to another ensures you can still have access to your TOTP codes and not end up locked out of your online accounts. However, if you do not back them up and transfer them correctly, then recovering those tokens becomes much more complex and time-consuming.
How Do You Transfer Your Tokens?
The process for backing up and transferring your authenticator tokens varies slightly depending on which app you use. We have step-by-step procedures for backing up
utilizing
Microsoft and Google Authenticator Tokens.
Microsoft Authenticator
On the Old Phone
- Open the Microsoft Authenticator app on the old phone.
- Click on the three dots situated at the top right of the app.
- Tap on ‘’Settings’’
- Select "Cloud Backup" on an Android Phone and "iCloud Backup" if you have iPhone.
- When prompted, key in your PIN code.
- Select the accounts you wish to transfer.
On the New Phone
- Open your phone app store (Apple App Store for an iPhone and Google Play for Android phones).
- Install the Authenticator App and key in your Microsoft login details
- Tap ‘’Begin Recovery’’
- Sign in to the Microsoft account details you used on the old phone.
- All your accounts will be automatically included in the Microsoft Authenticator of the new phone.
- Some accounts require revalidating by signing into the accounts or scanning the QR code.
- The old phone may show several QR codes that you need to scan. Ensure you follow the required prompts to complete the transfer process.
- A confirmation prompt will appear once the process is complete.
Google Authenticator
On the Old Phone
- Open your Google Authenticator App.
- Click on the three-dot menu on the top right side of the screen
- Select "Transfer accounts."
- On the new screen, click "Export accounts."
- Pick the accounts you want to export
- Click "Next," and a QR code will pop up
On the New Phone
- Open the phones app store (Apple App Store for an iPhone and Google Play for Android phones)
- Install the Google Authenticator app
- Click "Get Started"
- Select "Import existing accounts?" located at the bottom of the screen
- Tap "Scan QR code."
- Scan the QR code on your old phone, click "Next" on your old phone
- Scan the second QR code on your old phone and click "Done."
Make the Swap Securely
It's easy to get caught up in all the excitement when switching phones but remember to transfer those essential Authentication tokens! Following these step-by-step guides carefully and securely ensures that your sensitive accounts remain safe and secure during the transition from one device to another. So, take some time today to ensure everything is transferred correctly - it'll save you from potential headaches down the line!
