The holiday season is here, and with it comes the excitement of new mobile devices! If you’re getting a new phone or tablet this holiday season, don’t forget an important step: enrolling it with Duo to maintain access to all the University resources you rely on.

Good News: It’s Easier Than Ever

Thanks to recent Duo enhancements that went live in January 2025, setting up Duo on your new device is more streamlined than before. If you have backups enabled on your current device (which most people do), you can now use Duo Mobile App Instant Restore to quickly transfer your Duo settings to your new device.

For Most Users – The Simple Path:

1. Download the Duo Mobile app on your new device from your app store
2. Tap “Get My Account Back” to begin the Instant Restore process
3. Follow the prompts to restore your Duo configuration from your iCloud Backup (iOS) or Google Drive (Android)

Detailed instructions for Duo Restore are available at guide.duo.com/duo-restore.

If You Need Manual Setup

If you don’t have backups enabled or no longer have access to your previous device, you can still enroll your new device manually:

1. Connect to the University network (if off-campus, you’ll need to contact the help desk first)
2. Visit the Duo Enrollment and Management page at Tech.Rochester for our tutorial on connecting your Duo account to a new device

Take This Opportunity to Upgrade Your Security

If you’ve been using SMS or phone call authentication, consider setting up Duo Push on your new device. Push notifications are faster, more secure, and provide a smoother authentication experience. And some applications, such as Outlook Web Access, are not accessible from off-network when SMS texts or phone calls are used as your two-factor verification method. In other words, push = greater accessibility!

New Security Features You’ll Benefit From

Your new device will automatically take advantage of Duo’s latest security enhancements, including:

• New Device Verification: You’ll receive in-app notifications when devices are added or removed
• Enhanced Callback Security: Phone authentication now requires pressing a specific key
• Security Checkup Tool: The app will help you maintain good device security hygiene

Need Help?

Most users with backup-enabled devices won’t need assistance, but please contact your local service desk for support if you run into issues:

• University IT Help Desk: (585) 275-2000
• ISD Service Desk: (585) 275-3200

Don’t Forget Your Old Device

Before you sell, donate, or dispose of your previous device, make sure to follow Apple’s or Google’s instructions to properly reset it and remove it from your Duo account.