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Microsoft authenticator sending me into a spiral

Andrew Greaves 20 Reputation points
2025-12-11T07:35:03.8833333+00:00

Hi,

I'm not able to access my Microsoft365 apps (email/Teams primarily) at all due to changing phone and not having transferred my Authenticator credentials across.

Now when I try to log in, it sends me into a spiral where I try and add account to Authenticator but it then wants me to verify with a code which I can't because the authenticator doesn't give me one because I'm trying to add the account to it. I keep going round in circles but don't seem to be getting anywhere.

Any suggestions?

A


Moved from: Microsoft 365 and Office | Access | For business | Windows

Microsoft 365 and Office | Subscription, account, billing | For business | Other
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Answer accepted by question author and recommended by moderator
  1. Tamara-Hu 11,970 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2025-12-11T08:30:20.2666667+00:00

    Hello @Andrew Greaves,  

    Thank you for posting your valuable question on Microsoft Q&A forum.   

    I'm very sorry for the inconvenience you’ve experienced, based on the details you shared. May I ask if you have any alternative method to sign-in besides Authenticator? If yes, please try sign-in using this alternative method. 

    User's image

    If you don’t have an alternative sign-in method, and since you submitted this thread under the Business tag, here’s how you can revoke MFA access for a business account

    If you are an end-user, I would recommend you contact your organization account's Admin to reset your MFA settings through the Microsoft Entra Admin Center. If you haven’t yet reached out, here’s a helpful guide to locate your Microsoft 365 administrator: How do I find my Microsoft 365 admin? - Microsoft Support  

    Ask your administrator to follow these steps:    

    • Go to Microsoft Entra Admin Center: https://entra.microsoft.com  
    • Navigate to Users > All Users.  
    • Select your user account.  
    • Go to Authentication Methods.  
    • Click "Require re-register multifactor authentication".  

    User's image

     This will reset your MFA settings. The next time you sign in, you’ll be prompted to set up the Authenticator app again using a QR code.  

    If you're an IT admin, please check to see if there are other IT admins in your organization who can help you with the reset. 

    If you are the only administrator in your organization,  then you need to involve Microsoft data protection team. Please try to find the related hotline number to call the frontline and let them raise a ticket for you: Customer service phone numbers - Microsoft Support 

    Please carefully follow this instruction to ask for Microsoft Data Protection team support:   

    Depending on your country or region. For some countries, when calling the support number, although there are about 30 seconds opening as something "you can visit the link...." But you can ignore this opening and wait until the option, then "1" as a business email user, "1" again for technical help.   

    For some countries, it will be an automated conversation like:    

    First, when you call the hotline, it asks what kind of problem you are worried about.   

    Answered: authenticator.   

    A: What kind of product are you using?   

    B: Office 365 for business.   

    A confirmation: education or company account?   

    B: For companies   

    A: Are you an administrator?   

    B: Yes.   

    A: Do you have the other admin in your organization?   

    B: No.   

    A: You need one.... Service request?   

    B: Yes   

    If your organization's Office 365 Business/Education subscription is from a partner or reseller, and the global administrator is unable to open a service request on your end, contact the reseller's support provider to help open a service request on behalf of you instead.   

    If you’re using a personal account (e.g., Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook.com), please let me know, and I’ll guide you through the appropriate steps for your situation. 

    Please understand that forum moderators have no control over user accounts, especially when it comes to logging in to your account, resetting your password, changing your access, etc.   

    I hope Data Protection team can successfully revoke your access. If you need any further assistance or need help on any process, please feel free to reply. I'm here to help!  

    Thank you for your kindness and understanding so far!  


    If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment". 

    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.


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  1. Q&A Assist
    2025-12-11T07:35:18.5466667+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    To resolve your issue with accessing Microsoft 365 apps due to the Authenticator app not being set up on your new phone, you can try the following steps:

    1. Use Backup Codes: If you had set up backup codes when you enabled multi-factor authentication (MFA), you can use one of those codes to log in.
    2. Contact Support: Since you are unable to access your account, you may need to contact Microsoft support for assistance. They can help you reset your MFA settings or provide alternative methods to verify your identity.
    3. Reset MFA: If you have another way to verify your identity (like a recovery email or phone number), you can request a reset of your MFA settings through Microsoft support.
    4. Emergency Access Account: If your organization has set up an emergency access account (break-glass account), you can use that to gain access to your account and reset your MFA settings.
    5. Use Microsoft Authenticator App: Once you regain access, ensure that you set up the Microsoft Authenticator app on your new phone properly. You may need to re-add your account by scanning a QR code provided during the setup process.

    If you continue to face issues, it’s best to reach out to your IT department or Microsoft support for further assistance.


    References:

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