How do I disable the requirement to use Microsoft Authenticator in order to sign into my Microsoft Office 365 accounts?

Question

I recently tried to log into my Office 365 Admin account, and it wants me to sign up for a Microsoft Authenticator account and install the app on my phone. I want to disable this. I've searched several forums and found instructions to do this in Microsoft Azure, but I can never find exactly the right setting. Azure tells me Authenticator is disabled, but when I try to sign in, it keeps insisting that I install Authenticator.

I do not want to use Authenticator. How do I disable this?

Answer 1

Hi there,

To disable Microsoft Authenticator please do the following:

1. Sign in to the Azure portal as a global administrator or security administrator.
2. Go to Azure Active Directory > Security > MFA.
3. Under MFA settings, select Additional cloud-based MFA settings.
4. Under service settings, select Microsoft Authenticator app.
5. Change the setting to Disabled.

Additionally you can Log into Microsoft Entra admin, go to Identity > Users > All Users > Per-user MFA > Service Settings

From there you can uncheck the notifications for mobile app and verification code for app, any other settings you'd like from there. This is for all users, so please be aware and also please note that this severely lowers your security.

If none of that works, then I'm convinced they enforce it.

Thanks :)

Answer 2

For people who are not ready to use SMS and Auth App. Can temporary turn off the MFA in Entra ID:

Sign in to the Azure portal as a global administrator or security administrator.

Try this first,

1. Go to Microsoft Entra ID > Properties >
2. Under "Manage security defaults" settings at the bottom,
3. At "security default" setting select from Enable to Disable options.

if still not working on above method, then

1. Go to Microsoft Entra ID > Security > Authentication methods > Settings.
2. Under "System-preferred multifactor authentication" settings, select from Enable to Disable options.

Again, MFA is a good security policy for 2024, it is better to turn it on.