Prepare the phone and Mac
Install Authenticator for Mac. Keep the phone’s current codes working. On the phone, select the code entries to export and display their export QR. An export of codes does not automatically include passwords or Wi-Fi data.
Import a QR image on Mac
- Use the phone’s export sharing option to save the QR image, then transfer it privately to your Mac, for example with AirDrop from iPhone.
- In the Mac app, open the add/scan action and choose the QR image. The Mac flow recognizes an image; these steps do not require pointing a Mac camera at the phone.
- Review the resulting accounts and complete the import. If there are several export images, process each one and compare the full list.
Export images contain account secrets. Keep them off public links and shared photo albums, then dispose of temporary copies securely after verification.
Use a supported CSV instead
Apple code export can produce a CSV with a url header and one OTP URI per entry. Use the Mac CSV import action for that layout. This does not establish compatibility with CSV files from every password manager or authenticator. Android cloud backup files are not this format.
If you already use Apple backups
On iPhone and Mac, check the existing Apple backup route with the intended Apple account. Check the backup list and account entries; installing the Mac app or signing into the website does not by itself transfer codes.
Verify the result
Match the service and account labels and test important sign-ins with codes generated on Mac. Keep the phone until the new entries work. If import is rejected or incomplete, check the import format or reconnect through each service’s security settings.