The process of transferring Microsoft Authenticator is quite different than Google Authenticator. If you no longer have your old phone then you’ll need to recreate your accounts manually on your new phone. But, as we noted previously, if you use Google Authenticator, you must physically transfer your authenticator account to your new iPhone or Android before you wipe your old phone. Transferring apps, photos, contacts, etc from your old phone to a new phone is a seamless process these days.

With that said, using text message MFA is still better than nothing. With an authentication app, the codes are generated and stored temporarily on your phone and expire within a short timeframe. The primary reason is that it’s easier for a hacker to gain access to your text messages than it is to gain physical access to your phone. Multi-factor authentication means you'll type a code from your phone or authenticator app to access your account. Using an authenticator app such as Microsoft Authenticator, Google Authenticator, or DUO, is more secure than SMS text messages. This can prevent hackers from taking over if they know your password. Using multi-factor authentication (MFA) is one of the easiest and most successful ways to increase the security of your accounts.

Ms authenticator new phone