Remove MFA - I don't have the app and the phone number is a landline

Question

I need to update / remove my MFA via authenticator

I don't know what device has the authenticator. I've never used it to login.

Now I can't change security information.

The second option is to receive a text message at a phone # - the phone # is a landline.

The other 2 phone numbers can receive texts

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Please help me remove MFA or change the phone # to be a different one

Answer 1

Options to fix your MFA

1. Use one of your other phone numbers to verify If the other 2 numbers are listed as sign-in methods on your

account, try signing in and selecting one of those for the verification code instead of the authenticator or

landline.

2. Contact your IT admin (if this is a work/org account) Your IT admin can:

• Reset your MFA methods
• Remove the authenticator requirement
• Update the phone number on your account
  Entra ID → Users → your account → Authentication methods and reset.

3. If this is a personal Microsoft account

• Go to account.live.com/proofs/manage (https://account.live.com/proofs/manage)
• When prompted for verification, choose "I don't have any of these" or use one of the working phone numbers
• Follow the account recovery flow

4. Self-service recovery

• Visit aka.ms/mfasetup (https://aka.ms/mfasetup)
• During sign-in, if you see the option "I can't use my Microsoft Authenticator app right now", click it to get

alternate verification methods

Recommended next step

Since you have 2 phone numbers that can receive texts — the fastest path is to verify with one of those, then remove

the authenticator and update the landline number.

If none of the self-service options work, contact your IT helpdesk — they can reset your MFA in minutes.