Forum Discussion
MS Authenticator app feature request: export to file / import from file
I really enjoy using the authenticator app, but I'm worrying about my phone getting stolen and losing access to all of the accounts associated with it. I see there is a cloud backup feature, but ...
I think that would be a poor solution to the problem.
Compare how the Google Authenticator accounts migration implementation works. It's a simple and slick 2 step process. I was done in under 10 seconds!
Why request an archaic solution to this problem?
How does the google authenticator immigration implementation solve this problem? I'm not familiar with it, and from what I can find online, there are many different overlapping features on this topic.
Maybe there's a better solution, but I just don't know about it!
- Jeroen12
I explained everything in my initial request to MS on the matter, to which you commented at a point in time (hence the alert in my mailbox).
In short, this is how the GA process works:
1.) On the existing Mobile GA app >>> Tap settings >> Transfer Accounts = You are presented with a QR Code.
2.) On the new Mobile GA app >>> Click the + symbol >>> Scan a QR code = All your accounts have been transferred from old to new! Done!
I use both apps, so every time I get a new phone I have to feel the pain with the MS app and ask myself the Q, why don't I just spend the time to move all my Auth. accounts to Google Authenticator and be done with MS.....I cant find a reasonable reason not to, other than never having the time.- While it does sound like a useful feature, it's for solving a different problem than I'm describing. I want a backup for when I lose access to my current phone + phone number.
- Ohh ok, I thought you are referring to it as a means of migration.
Backups or means of account recovery are typically handled at the account level by means of Backup/Recovery codes and solutions of a similar kind, per account. I'm not aware of a solution that exists at an app level that would encompass all of your accounts. These auth solutions are app permission at the account level, after all.