Hi, I get in the last 24 hours numerous requests to sign in to my account by approving a certain number in my Authenticator app, this requests was not made by me, how can protect myself?

LEKHA PATEL 25 Reputation points
2026-01-15T09:15:56.1+00:00

I am receiving numerous unauthorized login attempts per day on my Microsoft / Outlook account. Each attempt triggers a 2-factor authentication notification requesting a code, which I did not initiate.

I am keep having to deny the requests. How can I change the Authenticator so there is no multiple choice, but instead we have to type in the number?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Microsoft Family Safety | For home | Windows
0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

Estrella721 43,720 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-01-15T09:53:24.5766667+00:00

Hi,

I'm sorry to hear that you're experiencing this issue. Login attempts typically occur when your email address has been leaked on the dark web. As long as these attempts are unsuccessful, your account remains safe. To prevent this, create a new alias for your account and set it as the primary. Then, configure your account settings to require sign-in only with this new identifier.

  1. Log in to your Outlook email account: Outlook.com or https://account.live.com
  2. Under your profile photo, click on "My Microsoft account."
  3. On the new page, click "Your info" and locate the "Account info" section.
  4. Click "Sign-in preferences" and, under "Account aliases," add a new email address or phone number that is not publicly known.
  5. Ensure it’s a valid and accessible contact.
  6. After adding, select "Make primary" to set this new email or phone number as your primary sign-in.
  7. Scroll to "Change sign-in preferences," uncheck your current Outlook email address, and check the box for your new login method.

Important: DO NOT delete the current/old email address

This will keep your email account active for sending and receiving messages while preventing login attempts.

Was this answer helpful?

3 people found this answer helpful.

1 additional answer

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest

  1. AI answer

    2026-01-15T09:16:06.9266667+00:00

    To protect yourself from unauthorized login attempts on your Microsoft account, you can take the following steps:

    1. Enable Additional Security Measures: Ensure that you have enabled all available security features on your account, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA). This adds an extra layer of security.
    2. Review Account Activity: Regularly check your account activity for any suspicious actions. If you notice any unauthorized access, change your password immediately.
    3. Change Your Password: If you are receiving multiple unauthorized login requests, it may be a good idea to change your password to something strong and unique.
    4. Use the Authenticator App for Verification Codes: Instead of approving sign-in requests via notifications, you can use the Authenticator app to generate verification codes. This way, you will need to enter a code manually rather than approving a request.
      • Note that the Authenticator app currently does not support changing the notification method to require manual entry of a number instead of a simple approval. However, you can use the app to generate a time-based one-time password (TOTP) instead.
    5. Contact Support: If the issue persists, consider reaching out to Microsoft support for assistance in securing your account and investigating the unauthorized access attempts.

    By following these steps, you can enhance the security of your account and reduce the number of unauthorized login attempts.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

    Was this answer helpful?

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.