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Use Duo Restore to Back Up or Transfer Two-Step Login Settings

The Duo Mobile app on your mobile device can be used to move your Two-Step Login settings to a new smartphone or tablet device or to restore the settings to the same device when they have inadvertently been deleted or lost.

This article applies to: Two-Step Login

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The "Instant Restore" feature is available for Duo accounts used for Cornell Two-Step Login for both iOS and Android devices.

Before you can use Duo Restore to restore your Two-Step Login settings, be sure to enable it on your existing device now, so that settings are backed up for future use. See below for the method appropriate to your iOS or Android device.

Note that iOS backups can only be restored to iOS devices, and Android backups to Android devices.

Enable Duo Restore on an iOS Device

To enable Duo Restore and get your Two-Step Login settings backed up for possible future use:

  1. Check that you have the latest version of Duo Mobile installed on your iOS device. The Apple Store will show the current version and allow you to update your copy if necessary. Be sure to install the app published by “Duo Security LLC.”
  2. Back up your iOS device to iCloud, with iCloud keychain enabled. This will ensure your backups include Duo Restore data. Alternatively, Encrypted iTunes or Finder backups will also work.

Restore Two-Step Login Settings to a New iOS Device

To restore Two-Step Login (Duo) settings, you must have previously set up an iOS device to back up your Duo account settings as outlined just above under Enable Duo Restore on Your iOS Device.
  1. On your new device, sign into iCloud, then restore from the iCloud, iTunes, or Finder backup. If you’re not sure how to do this, visit Apple’s instructions at Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup.
  2. If you’re restoring from iCloud, enable iCloud Keychain. For details, see Apple’s documentation Set up iCloud Keychain.
  3. On your new device, install Duo Mobile from the Apple App Store.
  4. Launch the Duo Mobile app and tap Continue on the welcome screen.
  5. Duo Mobile will locate your Two-Step Login backup and restore to your new device. When this process is complete, the app will display available restored accounts.
  6. Duo also sends a notification to your mobile device that Duo has been restored. Confirm that you performed the Duo account restore by tapping Yes.
Beware! If you ever receive a new phone account restore notification that you did not initiate, then malicious users may be attempting to access your account. In this case tap No, which puts a security lock on your Duo account. IT Security Office staff will investigate the fraudulent restore.
  1. You can now use the Duo Mobile app to authenticate Cornell logins, as you did with your old iOS device.

Duo has provided this video to walk you through the use of Duo Restore to move your Duo account to a new iOS device.

Enable Duo Restore on an Android Device

To enable Duo Restore and get your Two-Step Login settings backed up for possible future use:

  1. On your Android device, open Duo Mobile.
  2. Tap the menu icon (three lines), then tap Settings.
  3. Tap Duo Restore Settings.
  4. On the Duo Restore Settings screen, tap the slider to enable the Backup accounts with Google Drive.
  5. Select the Google account to use for Duo Restore, then grant Duo Mobile permission to store the backup in your Google Drive.

Restore Two-Step Login Settings to an Android Device

To restore your Two-Step Login (Duo) settings, you must have previously set up an Android device to back up your Duo account settings as outlined above under Enable Duo Restore on Your Android Device.
  1. On your new Android device:
    1. Install the latest Duo Mobile app from the Google Play Store. Be sure to install the app published by “Duo Security LLC.”
    2. Open the Duo Mobile app on your new device.
    3. At the Duo welcome screen, tap I have existing accounts.
    4. Duo Mobile will look for a previous backup in Google Drive. Select the Google account you used when initially setting up Duo Restore.
    5. Duo will ask if you have your old phone. Tap Yes, continue setup to continue.
  2. Next, on your old Android phone:
    1. Open Duo Mobile. Tap the menu icon (three lines), then tap Settings.
    2. Tap Connect a new phone, then tap View QR code to display a QR code on the screen.
  3. Then, on your new Android phone:
    1. Tap Scan QR code.
    2. Scan the QR code displayed on your old phone.
  4. Duo Mobile will find your backed-up Duo-protected account and restore it to your device
  5. When the process is complete, Duo will show a success message.
Beware! If you ever receive a new phone account restore notification that you did not initiate, then malicious users may be attempting to access your account. In this case tap No, which puts a security lock on your Duo account. IT Security Office staff will investigate the fraudulent restore.
  1. The Duo Mobile accounts list shows your restored Duo account(s). You may now use them to authenticate your logins to Cornell services.

Duo has provided this video to walk you through the use of Duo Restore to move your Duo account to a new Android device.


If you see the error "We couldn't find any accounts backed up on this Google account" when attempting to restore your Duo settings to a new device, it might mean one of the following:

  • You chose the wrong Google account when attempting Duo Restore.
  • You just turned on Duo Restore on your new phone, so it may not be in sync with the backup on your old phone yet.
  • Duo Restore was never activated on the old (original) device, or was turned off on the old device, so no backup is available.

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