I’ve had several customers run into a nightmare scenario:
They get a new phone because the old one died… and suddenly, they’ve lost all their authentication codes. Even after signing into the same account they originally used to set it up, the codes are gone.
Why does this happen?
With Microsoft Authenticator, backup often isn’t enabled by default – and even when it is, I’ve seen cases where it doesn’t work properly. If you don’t have other recovery options set (like a phone number or backup email), and the authenticator is your only source, you can end up locked out permanently.
Google Authenticator, on the other hand, automatically backs up your codes to your Google account. In my experience, it’s far more reliable and gives you peace of mind if your device fails.
So while Microsoft encourages you to use their app, you can absolutely use Google Authenticator instead – and in my opinion, it’s the safer choice.
Tip: Whatever app you use, always set up multiple recovery options. It’s a small step that can save you a huge headache later.
Have you ever been locked out because of an authenticator issue?