Backup/restore 3rd party codes reinstalling same device

[doron1]

Hi folks, 

I need to fresh reinstall Android on my handheld (long story). Planning for this, I looked at the Duo Security instructions of how to backup/restore third party registrations (I have a bunch). If I read the instructions correctly, they talk about moving to a newer phone, and the process calls for holding both old and new devices simultaneously at some instant.

Obviously when I go to reinstall Android on a device, I will not have the "old phone" and "new phone" running at the same time. Hence my question: How do I go about backing up the 3P secrets so that I can restore them on my freshly installed Android (on the same phone)?

Thanks for any insight. I sure hope I'm missing something

[DuoKristina]

It is true there isn't a paved backup/restore path for wipe and reinstall on the same Android device. Be sure that you have backup/recovery codes or some other way of logging in (SMS codes?) for each of your third-party OTP accounts in Duo Mobile (or go disable 2FA temporarily in those apps) so you can log in to them later and re-enroll the app in 2FA.

I feel this pain. I have had to do this before and I have 70+ accounts in Duo Mobile. We're working on improving the backup and restore experience for Android, but I don't have a timeline for you.

[doron1]

Thanks for replying. I was hoping for a working restore solution but this is helpful.

(To state the obvious, it would have been good if I could do an "advanced mode" backup/restore, lined with a mandatory decent passphrase, hidden behind a few "make sure you know what you're doing" scare dialogs.)

[DuoKristina]

A potential solution our team is exploring is one that makes use of Google's secure device backup features, similar to how iPhone users are able to restore credentials from iCloud backups to the same device.

[doron1]

Sounds good! - but no expected delivery date I presume? Maybe a hint?... If it's a few weeks ahead, I might decide to postpone my reinstall...

[DuoKristina · Accepted solution]

Possibly in this current quarter of calendar year 2024.

[doron1]

Hi @DuoKristina , just checking - is this feature out already? Thanks!

[DuoKristina]

Not yet. We have updated our documentation to preview what it will be like ahead of the release, which should be available later this month or early October.