Forum Discussion
Microsoft Authenticator on iPhone - ability to backup to locations other than iCloud
Our company has policy settings in place which restricts the ability of our iPhone/iPad fleet to backup content to iCloud. Unfortunately this also prevents the backup of Microsoft Authenticator configurations. It would be great if Microsoft Authenticator was able to backup its config to an alternative cloud storage location such as OneDrive.
2 Replies
Hi Wayno,
As far as I know, currently, the Microsoft Authenticator app for iPhone only supports backups to iCloud, with no built-in option to backup to alternative cloud storage services like OneDrive. Given that your company policy restricts iCloud backups, this can indeed be a limitation.
There isn’t an official workaround to change the backup destination to OneDrive or any other service. However, a few options could be considered:
1. Disable iCloud Restrictions for Authenticator Backup Only:
• You could request a policy exception for iCloud backups specifically for the Microsoft Authenticator app. Some MDM solutions (like Intune or others) allow creating app-specific policies, which might enable iCloud backup only for the Authenticator while still restricting other apps.
2. Manual Configuration Re-entry:
• Users would need to manually reconfigure their Authenticator app in the event of device loss or replacement. This is less than ideal but ensures that data remains compliant with company policy.
3. Use MFA in a Hybrid Manner:
• If possible, shift to using phone number authentication or email-based verification as additional methods alongside the Authenticator app, allowing users to regain access without solely relying on a backup.
4. Raise Feature Request with Microsoft:
• You can submit a feature request to Microsoft via the official feedback channels to support alternative backup methods, such as OneDrive. If this aligns with Microsoft’s plans, it could be implemented in future updates.
Unfortunately, at this point, Microsoft Authenticator’s backup functionality is tightly integrated with iCloud on iOS devices, and there’s no support for alternative storage solutions. If iCloud cannot be used, these workarounds may provide some relief until the feature is potentially expanded.
Regards,
msftep
