Getting Codes from Microsoft Authenticator Application

Question

No matter what I do I cannot get any codes from My Authenticator Application. I have deleted and reinstalled Multiple times. I have contacted support at one of the companies that is requiring using the app. I have tried to reach out to Microsoft support by phone and cannot get a live person. I have even tried Best Buy Geek Squad and no one can help. I need help in getting this fixed. Please provide some answers.

Thanks Bruce Kestenbaum

******@insurancebyrob.com

Answer 1

Hello Bruce,

If your Authenticator app is no longer generating valid codes, reinstalling alone won’t fix it because the app doesn’t store the secrets locally in a way that survives removal. Each account you add to Authenticator relies on a unique secret key that must be re‑provisioned from the service requiring authentication. When you delete and reinstall the app, those keys are lost, which is why you can’t get codes anymore.

The only way to restore functionality is to re‑register the Authenticator app with each service. For Microsoft accounts, you need to sign in at https://mysignins.microsoft.com, go to Security info, and add the Authenticator app again. This will generate a new QR code or setup key that you scan with the app. For third‑party services, you must log into their security portal and re‑enable two‑factor authentication, again scanning the new QR code into Authenticator. Without this step, the app has nothing to generate codes from.

If you are locked out of an account because you cannot generate codes, you’ll need to use the recovery options provided by that service — usually backup codes, SMS, or email verification. If those are unavailable, you must contact the service’s support team to reset your two‑factor authentication. Microsoft support can reset MFA for your Microsoft account if you cannot access backup methods, but this requires identity verification.

In short, deleting and reinstalling Authenticator wipes the stored keys. You must re‑provision the app with fresh QR codes from each service’s security settings. Once you do that, the codes will work again.

I hope you've found something useful here. If it helps you get more insight into the issue, it's appreciated to accept the answer. Should you have more questions, feel free to leave a message. Have a nice day!

Domic Vo.

Answer 2

If you are unable to receive codes from the Microsoft Authenticator app, here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:

1. Check App Permissions: Ensure that the Microsoft Authenticator app has the necessary permissions to send notifications. This is crucial for receiving codes.
2. Reinstall the App: Since you have already tried reinstalling the app multiple times, make sure to completely uninstall it, restart your device, and then reinstall it again.
3. Check for Updates: Ensure that your device's operating system and the Microsoft Authenticator app are both updated to the latest versions.
4. Access to Original Device: If you still have access to the original device where the Authenticator was set up, try to log in from there to see if you can retrieve the codes.
5. Contact Support: If you have not been able to get through to Microsoft support, consider reaching out through their online support channels or forums where you might find additional help from the community.
6. Reset Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): If you are the administrator of your account, you may need to reset your MFA settings. This can often be done by contacting Microsoft’s Data Protection team through their customer support hotline.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to consider creating a temporary account or trial tenant to submit a support ticket directly to the Data Protection team.

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References:

• Microsoft Authenticator app doesn't show 6-digit OTP code - Microsoft Q&A
• Requesting a Tenant Admin MFA Reset - Microsoft Q&A