Millions of people lose access to their accounts every year — not because they were hacked, but because they set up 2FA, got a new phone, and forgot that authenticator codes don't magically transfer.
The time to plan for this is right now, not when you're staring at a locked account. Here's what to do for each major app:
Google Authenticator: Open the app u2192 tap your profile picture u2192 Transfer accounts u2192 Export. Scan the QR code with your new phone. Takes 2 minutes. Do this before you reset your old phone.
Authy: Sign in with the same phone number on your new device. Authy stores backups in the cloud with an encrypted password. Set up the backup password NOW if you haven't — Settings u2192 Accounts u2192 Authenticator Backups.
1Password / Bitwarden: Your TOTP codes are stored in the vault along with your passwords. Log into your vault on the new phone and your codes travel with you automatically.
For any site, look for 'backup codes' in security settings and save them somewhere safe — a printed sheet in a secure location, or a notes app that's separate from your main device. These codes are your emergency exit.