I am enabling Authenticator app and I cnanot use existing authenticator. How can I setup

Question

I damaged my phone which has working authenticator. Now I got new phone and I am setting up authenticator but it is prompting me to authenticate on authenticator and I do not have working authenticator, How can I setup authenticator again.

Answer 1

If you are unable to use your existing authenticator app because your phone is damaged, you will need to reset your multifactor authentication (MFA) settings. Here are the steps you can follow:

1. Contact Your Administrator: If you are part of an organization, reach out to your administrator. They can help reset your MFA settings or allow you to re-register your authenticator app.
2. Delete Existing Sign-in Methods: If you have access to a web browser, you can delete the existing sign-in methods associated with your account. Go to Security Info and remove the authenticator app from your sign-in methods. Note that you might need another form of two-factor authentication (like SMS or phone call) to complete this process.
3. Re-register MFA: After the old authenticator app is removed, you can set up the Microsoft Authenticator app on your new phone. Download the app from the app store, open it, and follow the prompts to add your account. You may need to scan a QR code or enter a setup code provided by your organization.
4. Use Temporary Access Pass: If available, you might be able to use a temporary access pass to sign in and set up the authenticator app again. Check with your administrator if this option is available.

By following these steps, you should be able to set up the Microsoft Authenticator app on your new phone successfully.