How to Restore Google Authenticator if You Lost or Reset Your Phone

A step-by-step guide to restoring Google Authenticator if you've lost or switched your phone

Written by Kyle Smith

Last Updated: February 19, 2023

If You're Still Logged In

|

If You're Not Logged In

|

Transferring Authenticator (If You Still Have Your Phone)

|

Tips

If you use Google Authenticator to log in to sites using two-step authentication, you'll need to transfer your Authenticator keys when you get a new phone. But what if you've reset your phone to factory settings or switched to a new phone without transferring Authenticator first? If you still have access to your old Authenticator (or printed or screen-captured your QR code), it'll be easy to recover your accounts. If not, your only option is to create new Authenticator keys for each site and service. This wikiHow article will show you how to recover Google Authenticator onto a new phone or tablet.

Things You Should Know

If you didn't print or screenshot your Authenticator QR code in advance, you can't recover all of your Authenticator accounts on your new phone.
Since Google Authenticator does not backup like other authenticators (like Authy or Microsoft Authenticator), it might be best to switch to a different app in the future.
If you're still logged in to your accounts but lost your phone, you might be able to recover your keys for each account.

Section 1 of 3:

If You're Still Logged In

If you don't have access to your original phone or installation of Authenticator, you might be in luck if you're still logged in to your accounts. If you can still access the accounts you sign in to with Authenticator, you can reset Authenticator (or temporarily disable 2FA, which is possible on Discord, Microsoft, and other services) on those sites.
- The process will be different for each site, service, or app, but you'll usually find the option to set up a new device in your Security or Authentication settings.
- Some services will display a QR code or a key that you can enter into the Authenticator app on your phone to reset it.
- Don't forget to check all of your devices to see if any of them are still logged in. For example, if you logged in to YouTube on your PC or Mac, you can probably still access your security settings there.

Section 2 of 3:

If You're Not Logged In

Restore access to your account. As long as your email or phone number are linked to your account, you should be able to request access to it using one of those methods. If not, and you created backup codes for any of the sites you use to log in, you can use those codes to log back in to each site and then set up Authenticator on your new device like new.
- If you try to log in, you should be prompted for your Authenticator code; look around and click the Try another way link (it may be worded differently).
- Once you log into your account, reset the link to your Authenticator.

Section 3 of 3:

Transferring Authenticator (If You Still Have Your Phone)

1
Open the Google Authenticator app. If you still have access to your old Authenticator, you can easily recover all your accounts onto a new device by scanning your QR code with that device.
- The only way to recover Authenticator if you've lost your phone is to make sure you have a backup copy of your QR code in advance. To make sure you're prepared in the future, you can also use this method to print your QR code and store it somewhere safe.
2
Tap the three-dot icon. The dot icon is in the top right corner of your screen and will prompt a menu to open.
3
Tap Export Accounts (iPhone/iPad) or Transfer accounts (Android). Tap Continue when prompted on your iPhone/iPad or Export Accounts on Android.
4
Select the accounts you want to include in the transfer. These can include non-Google services as well as any Google accounts that are listed.
- More than one code may prompt your phone to make multiple QR codes.
5
Tap Export (iPhone/iPad) or Next (Android). You'll immediately see a QR code on the screen.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- If you have a new phone, open the Google Authenticator app and tap + and Scan a QR code. Hold your new phone up to scan the QR code on your old phone's screen.
- If you don't have the new phone yet or want to save the code for later, you can take a screenshot and print it.
  - On iPhone/iPad, you can freely screenshot each QR code.
  - On some Android devices, you won't be able to take a screenshot of the QR code. Instead, you'll need to take a photo of the code using another device.
- If you ever lose access to your Authenticator, set up a new account, then tap Scan a code when you're going through setup. This way, your account will be just like your old Authenticator account!