Why doesn't OneDrive recognize that I have Microsoft Authenticator?

Question

Whenever I get into my Personal Vault in OneDrive, it always prompts me by wanting to send a text message to my phone. I appreciate the fact that Microsoft takes the Personal Vault to a higher level of security. But the text message always says I could download and use Microsoft Authenticator on my phone. I've had Microsoft Authenticator on my phone for well over a year. Why doesn't OneDrive recognize this?

Answer 1

Hello Nik,

Thank you for your response! You're taken my understanding on this issue farther than I've ever had before. So, to use Microsoft Authenticator on my phone, must I enable two-factor authentication to my Microsoft account? That would mean, I believe, that besides signing into my Microsoft account on my home desktop or laptop, I would have to either respond to a text message or maybe use the Microsoft Authenticator, correct?

Answer 2

Hi,

First, ensure that you have enabled two-factor authentication to your Microsoft account, please follow these steps:

1. Go to the Security basics page and sign in with your Microsoft account.
2. Select More security options.
3. Under Two-step verification, choose Set up two-step verification to turn it on, or choose Turn off two-step verification to turn it off.
4. Follow the instructions.

Note: As part of setting up this account, you’ll be given a QR code to scan with your device; this is one way we ensure you are in physical possession of the device you are installing the Authenticator app to.

For more, see https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-bil...

Now, After you link your Microsoft account to the authenticator app, please follow these steps to unlock the personal vault:

1. In your OneDrive, select the Personal Vault folder.
2. Verify your identity by choosing a verification method. For example, select Text and follow the instructions to send yourself a text message on your phone.

You can unlock Personal Vault with the Microsoft Authenticator app. The app doesn't need Internet access to generate an access code.

To know more about how to use personal vault, please see https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/prot...

Regards

Nik

Answer 3

Hi Nik,

Thank you for the information. Once I've got my Micrsoft account linked to the authenticator app, how then do I use it for doing things like accessing my Personal Vault in OneDrive?

Answer 4

Hi,

Thanks for your post on the community forum. I'm Nik, an independent advisor here to assist you with this.

It looks like that your personal Microsoft account is not linked to the authenticator app. Please refer to the steps in the following article to add your Microsoft account to the app and try again:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-d...

Regards

Nik