People upgrading their phones will find that even though their data gets transferred to the new device, they soon find that the Google Authenticator codes have not. 


As a result, people with new devices can not access District email or other services requiring 2-Factor Authentication.


There are two solutions to this problem.


  1. Before getting rid of the old phone, manually transfer the Google Authenticator Codes from the current device to the new device. 
  2. Visit tech with your new device where the MFA process can be reset and we will go through an initial setup process with you. The main problem with this option is that if you get a new phone on a Friday or over a break, you will not have account access until you can physically come to tech for assistance.


To transfer Authenticator codes to a new phone, you need:


  • Your old Android phone with Google Authenticator codes
  • The latest version of the Google Authenticator app installed on your old phone
  • Your new phone


Instructions to transfer from old device to new device:


  1. On your new phone, install the Google Authenticator app.
  2. In the Google Authenticator app, tap Get Started.
  3. At the bottom, tap Import existing accounts?
  4. On your old phone:
    1. In the Authenticator app, tap More More and then Transfer accounts and then Export accounts.
    2. Select the accounts you want to transfer to your new phone. Then, tap Next. If you transfer more than one account, your old phone may create more than one QR code.
  5. On your new phone, tap Scan QR code.

After you scan your QR codes, you get confirmation that your Authenticator accounts transferred.

Tip: If your camera can’t scan the QR code, there may be too much information. Try to export again with fewer accounts.