ONE TIME PASSWORD ON MULTIPLE DEVICES (MFA)

Dan O'Leary
Dan O'Leary Member Posts: 3 Novice Member Novice Member
edited June 2024 in Accounts Hosted

I like to run a back up phone that I carry with me as I travel a lot and have been trying to figure out how to get the authenticator app to update on other devices without requiring a new barcode. Finally cracked it. Read this whole thread as you may be able to skip a few steps depending on whether you do a re-install or an upgrade. I am finding with the advent of MFA the number of MFA accounts on my Microsoft Authenticator App is growing daily, so this may help a few people who also run back up devices.

Step 1: on your main phone enable cloud back up in the Microsoft Authenticator App. This is in settings.

Step 2: on your other device delete the Authenticator App and then re-install

Step 3. when you reinstall scroll down and select restore from back up

Step 4. An authentication code will be sent to your main device to approve

Step 5. Your good to go

Also note that if you upgrade your app on the other device after upgrade it will give you the option to restore from back up. If you select that option it will take you straight to step 4. So long as you have cloud back up enabled.

I also run two different Microsoft accounts and when you back up for some reason it does not automatically update the second Microsoft account, so you need to set that one up manually again on the new devices, but your main device is unaffected, by this so no need to panic.

My next issue to solve is how to get my accountant through so they can audit my accounts every year. They are trying to get me to change to Xero, but it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks. If anyone else has solved this problem let me know.

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