My Authenticator App is sending wrong codes

Question

My Authenticator App is sending wrong codes

Goodson Mbuli Transnet Rail RCB 0

I cannot access my work email, i used the Authenticator app for security.

I'm getting the verification code for Microsoft authenticator but its failing.

Nicholo Cuenca 0 Reputation points

2026-05-25T11:57:09.66+00:00

@Goodson Mbuli Transnet Rail RCB , if Microsoft Authenticator is generating codes but Microsoft keeps rejecting them, the issue is usually one of these:

• The phone’s date/time is out of sync • The wrong account was added in Authenticator • The account was reset or re-registered by your company IT admin • The sign-in is expecting an approval notification instead of a 6-digit code

Try syncing your phone time automatically first, then remove and re-add the work account in Microsoft Authenticator if possible. Since this is a work email, your Microsoft 365 admin may also need to reset your MFA registration from the admin side if the authenticator binding became corrupted.

2 answers

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Nicholo Cuenca 0 Reputation points

2026-05-25T11:57:09.66+00:00

@Goodson Mbuli Transnet Rail RCB , if Microsoft Authenticator is generating codes but Microsoft keeps rejecting them, the issue is usually one of these:

• The phone’s date/time is out of sync • The wrong account was added in Authenticator • The account was reset or re-registered by your company IT admin • The sign-in is expecting an approval notification instead of a 6-digit code

Try syncing your phone time automatically first, then remove and re-add the work account in Microsoft Authenticator if possible. Since this is a work email, your Microsoft 365 admin may also need to reset your MFA registration from the admin side if the authenticator binding became corrupted.

Answer 1

Please note that we're not Microsoft support, this is a user-to-user support forum. Moderators have no backend access and cannot directly intervene in Microsoft products. We provide only technical guidance and best-practice recommendations based on reported issues.

Hi @Goodson Mbuli Transnet Rail RCB

Can you please provide the exact error message when Authenticator app failed? You mentioned it sent the wrong code, is it 2, 6 or 8 digits?For example: User's image

Additionally, are you still able to log in https://mysignins.microsoft.com/security-info by using any alternative methods?

If yes, you can try remove the Authenticator sign-in option, then re-add a new one.

User's image

If you are completely locked out of your account, please contact your IT admin of your company. They will be able to reset MFA for you. Please give them this article for the instructions: Manage authentication methods for Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication - Microsoft Entra ID |…

I hope this information helps.

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.

Jayden-P 22,730 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-05-26T09:57:36.1066667+00:00

Hi @Goodson Mbuli Transnet Rail RCB

Have you checked the provided answer? Any update would be great.

Answer 2

Follow these steps to resolve failing verification codes from Microsoft Authenticator for a work account:

Try another verification method

On the sign-in screen where the code fails, choose Use a different verification option (or similar) if available.
Use SMS, phone call, or email verification if those are configured.
Once signed in, go to your Security info page and reconfigure the Authenticator method.

Check for account lock or excessive attempts

Multiple failed sign-in attempts or code entries can trigger protection mechanisms and temporarily block verification.
If there have been many attempts, wait and try again later, or use a different MFA method.
If you suspect someone else is trying to access the account, contact the organization’s IT administrator so they can review Microsoft Entra sign-in logs and MFA configuration.

Re-register Microsoft Authenticator (admin-assisted) If codes continue to fail, the MFA registration may be out of sync and needs to be reset:

Ask the organization’s IT admin to:
1. Go to Microsoft Entra admin center → Users → All users.
2. Select the user account.
3. Open Authentication methods.
4. Select Require re-register multifactor authentication.
After this, sign in again; the system will prompt to set up Microsoft Authenticator from scratch (scan QR code, confirm sign-in).

If there is no alternative method and no other admin

If the affected account is the only admin and cannot sign in at all, the tenant owner must contact Microsoft support by phone and request escalation to the Data Protection team to reset MFA, as described in the referenced guidance.

If none of the above is possible, the organization’s help desk or Microsoft support must be involved; end users and forum moderators cannot directly reset or bypass MFA.

References:

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My Authenticator App is sending wrong codes

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