I get asked to 'approve request' in Authenticator app when trying to register new account to Authenticator app

Question

I get asked to 'approve request' in Authenticator app when trying to register new account to Authenticator app

Alpacookie 101

Hi!

I'm trying to add my work account to the Authenticator app using the app itself. After entering the email address and password, a screen pops up that tells me to open the Authenticator app and approve the request there.
But since the Authenticator app is already open on this screen, it's not possible to receive and approve any request, so what should I do?

I have no idea what exactly the problem is, I've tried adding my account several times but keep getting this same message.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

o k 16 Reputation points

2022-09-23T13:51:04.347+00:00

I am experiencing the same problem. I agree with Jimmy that it looks like app the looping the authentication requestion, but none of the suggestions in the "Common problems" article below are helping.

For the background info, I am trying to re-install the app. I did not run into this issue during the original installation. But every re-installation attempt runs into this issue.
Syed Abdul, Hameed 35 Reputation points

2023-04-03T07:39:00.5566667+00:00

Outlook App is requesting that you sign in using Authenticator. When you launch Authenticator, it prompts you to enter the code found in the Outlook App. When you open the Outlook Mobile App, it prompts you to go to Authenticator.

Outlook -> Authenticator -> Outlook -> Authenticator -> Outlook -> Authenticator -> Outlook -> Authenticator

Microsoft needs some good developers.
Nicholas Karlsson 5 Reputation points

2023-04-17T07:36:58.98+00:00

Hi, Has anyone found a solution to this problem yet I can´t accsess my schoolmail because of the same issue and i havent been able to for a couple of months now, it´s getting really frustrating
Torstein Lunde 25 Reputation points

2023-05-13T23:40:09.4933333+00:00

Deleted......
Torstein Lunde 25 Reputation points

2023-05-13T23:40:49.1533333+00:00

I have been using Azure for about 1 month, and was asked to turn on 2 factor authentication to make the account safer. I never did this, but suddenly it seem to have been turned on without me having any chance to prepare the tow factor app. So I am not able to log on to Azure. And when I try to get an SMS on my phone instead, the SMS never arrives, even though it agrees with my four last digits on my phone number.

I do not understand how all this have happened, and I am getting a bis scared of how easily one can loose access to the azure account. Support in the US does not work either, only a robot telling med to go to the support pages which does not help med..
Rwidders 25 Reputation points

2023-06-04T02:10:01.56+00:00

These idiots at Microsoft can go F*** themselves. India programming indeed. I cannot access my account even with SMS verification because I got a new phone and I do not have the old phone, why?!!? IT FREAKING BROKE! I cannot restore anything I have to wait 30 days to login to my own damn account. I have access to the email the account is under, I have access to the cell phone the two-step is under and I even have the alternative email, but does it matter?!?!! No, it does not, why cause you are idiots. It is a stupid email account, Jesus Christ it is not the vault code for Fort Knox. Get real! I quit Microsoft and your customer support needs to learn to speak 1 WORD IN ENGLISH! I hate them, hate them, hate them.
CHERIGIE, Philippe 0 Reputation points

2023-08-24T13:32:09.36+00:00

I have exactly the same problem. I created a Microsoft account to buy Office 365 2 years ago and provided my previous phone number (no longer in use)

When I try to enter my personal account with Password into authenticator, the system asks me to approve using authenticator (looping hole)

So, I cannot access my MSFT account, and Office 365 is renewed automatically. While I cannot enjoy OneDrive as I cannot log into my account to sign on OneDrive as it requires an authenticator.

Does anyone get an answer from Microsoft? as we cannot call their support anymore.

Thank you,

Philippe
sherilyn cass 0 Reputation points

2024-02-29T05:41:57.0866667+00:00

I’m experiencing the same problem. I have a new phone and when it’s come to accessing an email account it’s asking for a code through the app, which I don’t have. I’ve even tried the recovery form and they emailed back to say they have ignored it as I have the two step verification, it’s given two options, a code via the app or via phone ( which is my old number) so I’ve had to do the 30 day option, so now I have no way to access that email address or for my son to access his Xbox account. This is just ridiculous. Surely there is a simpler way, Microsoft support are no support and said, it’s something they can’t do from their end. My point is, why spend 30 minutes filling out a recovery form for them to just ignore it. Frustrated is not the word.
Amr Habib 0 Reputation points

2024-04-21T10:57:34.7433333+00:00

How to do it?
Abdul Vahid 0 Reputation points

2024-09-25T17:38:57.1+00:00

Hii any solution for this issue
Donavit Mikrasivt 0 Reputation points

2024-11-23T00:40:40.3+00:00

Linux is looking more and more appealing these days, hope Microsoft bites the dust by the end of this decade.
SHBIB Anas 0 Reputation points

2025-04-30T15:45:59.1666667+00:00

Cheapest platform ever, basic developer earns 1 dollar per hour can fix this bug
Have some respect companies are paying you lots of credits to look after your business
Thais Villacis 0 Reputation points

2025-04-30T22:29:48.58+00:00

I had the same issue and I finally resolved it by going on my computer to my outlook, I went to my account on the top right corner and clicked the security info option that appeared on the left side menu. After I clicked on the add sign in method and use the Authenticator app with the QR code and scanned it with my phone.

Hope this works.

4 answers

Your answer

o k 16 Reputation points

2022-09-23T13:51:04.347+00:00

I am experiencing the same problem. I agree with Jimmy that it looks like app the looping the authentication requestion, but none of the suggestions in the "Common problems" article below are helping.

For the background info, I am trying to re-install the app. I did not run into this issue during the original installation. But every re-installation attempt runs into this issue.
Syed Abdul, Hameed 35 Reputation points

2023-04-03T07:39:00.5566667+00:00

Outlook App is requesting that you sign in using Authenticator. When you launch Authenticator, it prompts you to enter the code found in the Outlook App. When you open the Outlook Mobile App, it prompts you to go to Authenticator.

Outlook -> Authenticator -> Outlook -> Authenticator -> Outlook -> Authenticator -> Outlook -> Authenticator

Microsoft needs some good developers.
Nicholas Karlsson 5 Reputation points

2023-04-17T07:36:58.98+00:00

Hi, Has anyone found a solution to this problem yet I can´t accsess my schoolmail because of the same issue and i havent been able to for a couple of months now, it´s getting really frustrating
Torstein Lunde 25 Reputation points

2023-05-13T23:40:09.4933333+00:00

Deleted......
Torstein Lunde 25 Reputation points

2023-05-13T23:40:49.1533333+00:00

I have been using Azure for about 1 month, and was asked to turn on 2 factor authentication to make the account safer. I never did this, but suddenly it seem to have been turned on without me having any chance to prepare the tow factor app. So I am not able to log on to Azure. And when I try to get an SMS on my phone instead, the SMS never arrives, even though it agrees with my four last digits on my phone number.

I do not understand how all this have happened, and I am getting a bis scared of how easily one can loose access to the azure account. Support in the US does not work either, only a robot telling med to go to the support pages which does not help med..
Rwidders 25 Reputation points

2023-06-04T02:10:01.56+00:00

These idiots at Microsoft can go F*** themselves. India programming indeed. I cannot access my account even with SMS verification because I got a new phone and I do not have the old phone, why?!!? IT FREAKING BROKE! I cannot restore anything I have to wait 30 days to login to my own damn account. I have access to the email the account is under, I have access to the cell phone the two-step is under and I even have the alternative email, but does it matter?!?!! No, it does not, why cause you are idiots. It is a stupid email account, Jesus Christ it is not the vault code for Fort Knox. Get real! I quit Microsoft and your customer support needs to learn to speak 1 WORD IN ENGLISH! I hate them, hate them, hate them.
CHERIGIE, Philippe 0 Reputation points

2023-08-24T13:32:09.36+00:00

I have exactly the same problem. I created a Microsoft account to buy Office 365 2 years ago and provided my previous phone number (no longer in use)

When I try to enter my personal account with Password into authenticator, the system asks me to approve using authenticator (looping hole)

So, I cannot access my MSFT account, and Office 365 is renewed automatically. While I cannot enjoy OneDrive as I cannot log into my account to sign on OneDrive as it requires an authenticator.

Does anyone get an answer from Microsoft? as we cannot call their support anymore.

Thank you,

Philippe
sherilyn cass 0 Reputation points

2024-02-29T05:41:57.0866667+00:00

I’m experiencing the same problem. I have a new phone and when it’s come to accessing an email account it’s asking for a code through the app, which I don’t have. I’ve even tried the recovery form and they emailed back to say they have ignored it as I have the two step verification, it’s given two options, a code via the app or via phone ( which is my old number) so I’ve had to do the 30 day option, so now I have no way to access that email address or for my son to access his Xbox account. This is just ridiculous. Surely there is a simpler way, Microsoft support are no support and said, it’s something they can’t do from their end. My point is, why spend 30 minutes filling out a recovery form for them to just ignore it. Frustrated is not the word.
Amr Habib 0 Reputation points

2024-04-21T10:57:34.7433333+00:00

How to do it?
Abdul Vahid 0 Reputation points

2024-09-25T17:38:57.1+00:00

Hii any solution for this issue
Donavit Mikrasivt 0 Reputation points

2024-11-23T00:40:40.3+00:00

Linux is looking more and more appealing these days, hope Microsoft bites the dust by the end of this decade.
SHBIB Anas 0 Reputation points

2025-04-30T15:45:59.1666667+00:00

Cheapest platform ever, basic developer earns 1 dollar per hour can fix this bug
Have some respect companies are paying you lots of credits to look after your business
Thais Villacis 0 Reputation points

2025-04-30T22:29:48.58+00:00

I had the same issue and I finally resolved it by going on my computer to my outlook, I went to my account on the top right corner and clicked the security info option that appeared on the left side menu. After I clicked on the add sign in method and use the Authenticator app with the QR code and scanned it with my phone.

Hope this works.

Answer 1

Ryan Tempest 30

Hi All,

i had this issue this morning i had to go to my computer and delete the sign in option from my microsoft account to then be able to reset up the auth

hope this helps

Emeka Chukwu 5 Reputation points

2023-06-26T13:37:26.6633333+00:00

THANK YOU, RYAN! I have been dealing with this issue for over one month with no clear means of resolution in site. Thank you SO much. This got it done and it was so easy to do, once it was made known what to do.
Emeka Chukwu 5 Reputation points

2023-06-26T13:55:02.5133333+00:00

I am truly grateful. You have no idea.
Cee 25 Reputation points

2023-07-31T21:52:22.0133333+00:00

@Ryan Tempest Could you please explain further? All the Microsoft sites we tried to access prompted for codes which we cannot get on the mobile app because it also prompts us for code.
Shuttlewood, Joshua 0 Reputation points

2024-02-06T14:06:44.36+00:00

Cee Hi, I have had the same problem, if you have outlook available signed into the account you're trying to authenticate. open outlook < file < look for "Acccount Settings" and there should be a link to open which gives you access to your account without needing a code, once inside your account, go into security info and remove the Microsoft authticator section, next time you log in it should prompt you to start again with the process and remove the loop glitch.
Megan Casselman 0 Reputation points

2024-02-29T04:19:10.2566667+00:00

Hi when i click on security info it is bringing up the screen where I need to enter the # on the auth app. hellppppp
Amr Habib 0 Reputation points

2024-04-21T10:55:21.53+00:00

How to enter security details if its request a verification from the authentication app?
Amr.habib 0 Reputation points

2024-04-21T11:31:50.7433333+00:00

Shuttlewood, Joshua

Hi when i click on security info it is bringing up the screen where I need to enter the number on the authentications app
PanTheGreek 0 Reputation points

2024-05-20T12:27:18.0466667+00:00

Thanks @Ryan Tempest . I followed the steps you described and it worked fine for me.

Answer 2

Majic, Ivan 5

If anyone is still dealing with this problem, these steps might work:

Try to login normally and get forwarded to the Authenticator app.
Once you get to the number stage, click "I can't use the Authenticator App right now".
Click the codes option
Click the Get codes button towards the bottom of the page
Click on the code that appears to copy it.
Click Done in the top right corner
Paste the code in and it should work

Hope this helps someone.

Jordan Ricker 0 Reputation points

2025-03-06T14:18:14.1866667+00:00

This is the only solution that worked for me. Thank you for providing a solution to an extremely frustrating issue!

Answer 3

JimmySalian-2011 42,486

Hi,

Thank you for asking this question on the Microsoft Q&A Platform.

It seems the app is looping the authentication requests and not able to process your account, please check this article there are some steps and information that can be used for this issue.

Also the alternative is to request the administrator to reset the MFA or switch off the MFA for this user and request to re-register the user for MFA.

Please check the MS Authenticator app is updated to the latest version.

common-problems-with-two-step-verification-for-a-work-or-school-account-63acbb9b-16a1-47b9-8619-6a865e8071a5

==

Please "Accept the answer" if the information helped you. This will help us and others in the community as well.

Rwidders 25 Reputation points

2023-06-04T02:11:00.23+00:00

Another idiotic response by Microsoft Bots. Go read 30 articles that have nothing to do with what you need. Enjoy. Oh, and why does WAITING 30 days make it any more freaking secure?
Bryan Hayes 5 Reputation points

2023-11-30T17:01:31.3933333+00:00

11-30-2023 Latest Microsoft Authenticator App for Android
I still have the same problem. The MS Authenticator app is asking that you verify your identity by using the MS Authenticator App. This occurred after switching to a new phone.
Need ability to use email or text message.
sherilyn cass 0 Reputation points

2024-02-29T05:45:52.6733333+00:00

The organisation is Microsoft. So then what? As they can’t turn it off
Max Okore 0 Reputation points

2025-06-24T20:22:53.9133333+00:00

Spent 2 hpurs trying to reach my microsft account 0 use authenticator cant get it to work - Useless why so complex - its ridculous - given up - will cancel MS 365 Office after trial ens So frustrating - appears deliberate

Answer 4

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I get asked to 'approve request' in Authenticator app when trying to register new account to Authenticator app

4 answers

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