Migrating Microsoft MFA to a New Phone

If you have recently acquired a new phone and need to migrate your Microsoft Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) settings, follow these steps to ensure a smooth transition:

Follow these steps if you have the old phone and the new phone:

Step 1: Install the Microsoft Authenticator App & Delete Old Entries

Even though your phone carrier or device may have automatically brought over all the same apps from your old phone, it's important to note that the Microsoft Authenticator app requires an MFA reset. Essentially, just because you have the Microsoft Authenticator app doesn't mean it will work as intended.
If your new phone has the authenticator app, delete all entries that are auto-populated.
If your new phone doesn't have the Microsoft Authenticator app, you can install it from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android) on your new phone.

Step 2: Access Your Microsoft Account

Open a private or incognito web browser on your computer and login to Microsoft.
Sign in with your Microsoft account credentials.

Step 3: Navigate to Security Settings

Once logged in, visit the "Security Info" page to update your information.
Visiting this page, it will send an MFA prompt to your old phone. Enter the digits provided by the Microsoft Authenticator App on your old phone.

Step 4: Add a New Device

On the Security Info page, select the option to add a sign-in method.
Click the "Microsoft Authenticator" option.
Follow the on-screen instructions to scan the QR code using the Microsoft Authenticator app on your new phone.

Step 5: Verify and Complete Setup

Once the QR code is scanned, the app will prompt you to verify the setup.
Approve the sign-in request on your new phone to complete the migration process.
Lastly, to verify again, logout of your Microsoft Account, close the browser window, open another private or incognito browser window, and login again. This will prompt MFA again. Approve the sign-in request on your new phone to verify again.
Be aware that you may need to re-authenticate on desktop-based Microsoft applications such as Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and so on. After logging in on the desktop application, the rest of the apps should sync up.

Step 6: Remove the Old Device (Optional)

If you no longer need MFA on your old phone, go back to the security settings on your Microsoft account.
Remove the old device from the list of registered MFA devices.

Follow these steps if you do not have the old phone:

Step 1: Submit a ticket to the Technology Department

Send a ticket to helpdesk@everyhome.org alerting us to your scenario. In your email subject, be sure to let us know that you need help setting up MFA and do not have your old phone.
This information will inform a few procedures we will need to execute on our end to serve you.

Step 2: Install the Microsoft Authenticator App & Delete Old Entries

Even though your phone carrier or device may have automatically brought over all the same apps from your old phone, it's important to note that the Microsoft Authenticator app requires an MFA reset. Essentially, just because you have the Microsoft Authenticator app doesn't mean it will work as intended.
If your new phone has the authenticator app, delete all entries that are auto-populated.
If your new phone doesn't have the Microsoft Authenticator app, you can install it from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android) on your new phone.

Step 3: Allow the Technology Department to force an MFA reset on your Microsoft Account

The Technology Department will need to force MFA reset on your account. Once we do this, you will need to wait approximately 5 minutes before the changes are reflected in your login flow.
We will reach out to you when you can proceed.

Step 4: Access Your Microsoft Account

Open a private or incognito web browser on your computer and login to Microsoft.
Sign in with your Microsoft account credentials.

Step 4: Provide More Login Information

As you login, you will be met with additional screens that ask you to provide more information.
Follow the on-screen prompts to set up MFA until you get to the screen on which a QR code is displayed.

Step 5: Add a Work Account in Microsoft Authenticator

On your new phone, open the Microsoft Authenticator app.
Click the plus button "+" on the top right of the screen.
Select "Work or School Account".
Select "Scan QR Code"

Step 6: Verify and Complete Setup

Scan the QR code presented on your login screen with your new phone in the Microsoft Authenticator App. Once the QR code is scanned, the app will prompt you to verify the setup.
Approve the sign-in request on your new phone to complete the verification process.
Lastly, to verify again, logout of your Microsoft Account, close the browser window, open another private or incognito browser window, and login again. This will prompt MFA again. Approve the sign-in request on your new phone to verify again.
Be aware that you may need to re-authenticate on desktop-based Microsoft applications such as Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and so on. After logging in on the desktop application, the rest of the apps should sync up.

By following these steps, you can successfully migrate your Microsoft MFA settings to your new phone, ensuring continued security for your account.

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out if you need help, or if you have followed all of these steps and still experience issues. We are here to serve you!