How to fix Microsoft Authenticator not being able to show authentication code to input? And Microsoft Authenticator showing a wrong authentication code?

Question

Hi, I’m having issues with Microsoft Authenticator. It doesn’t PUSH the authentication code at all, and other times it shows a code that doesn’t work. I’ve tried restarting my phone and the app, but the issue persists. How can I fix this so the app reliably generates the correct codes?

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Answer 1

Hello @Abdulrehman Mahfudh

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A Community! 

Thank you for letting us know about your situation. I understand how frustrating it is when Microsoft Authenticator doesn’t push notifications or shows incorrect codes.  

To better support you, may I know if you're signed in with a personal account (e.g., @hotmail.com, @outlook.com), an education account (e.g., @school.edu), or a work account (e.g., @yourcompany.com)?  

Based on the initial behavior you described where there are no push notifications and invalid codes, this usually points to device time settings, notification restrictions, or app configuration issues. Hence, please follow these steps: 

• Ensure your phone's date and time are all correctly configured.  
• Notifications for “Microsoft Authenticator” is set to ON 
• Switch between Wi‑Fi and mobile data 
• Check your connection and VPN 
• Update the app to the latest version 
• Reinstall the app 
• Remove and re-add the account 

For more details, kindly check this article: Troubleshoot problems with Microsoft Authenticator - Microsoft Support 

If the issue continues after completing all of the above steps and you're having a work account with user permission, please reach out to your IT administrator, as they may need to reset your MFA configuration or clear old authenticator registrations on the backend.  

Please have your Admin follow the steps shown in the following article: Manage authentication methods for Microsoft Entra multi-factor authentication - Microsoft Entra ID … 

1. Sign in to the Microsoft Entra admin center as at least an Authentication Administrator. 
2. User > all user.  Select the user you want to act on, and select Authentication methods. then select Require re-register of multi-factor authentication.  

Require re-register MFA:  This disables all previous authentication methods. You'll then be prompted to configure a new MFA authentication method the next time you try to sign in, so you can add a new authenticator app.  

In case you have a personal account, kindly let me know. 

Thank you for your cooperation. Let me know how it goes on your end or if you need further assistance.  

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Answer 2

To address the issues you're experiencing with the Microsoft Authenticator app, here are some steps you can follow:

1. Check Device Clocks: Ensure that the clocks on both your mobile device and the computer you are trying to log into are synchronized. If they are out of sync, it can cause the authentication codes to be invalid. You can adjust the time settings on your device to ensure they are correct.
   • For iPhone: Change the date and time on iPhone
   • For Android: How to fix the incorrect time on your Android phone
2. Restart the Login Process: If you receive an error indicating that the code is not valid, restart the login process and try entering a new one-time code. This can help if the previous attempt timed out or if there was a lag.
3. Check for App Updates: Make sure that your Microsoft Authenticator app is updated to the latest version available on your device's app store.
4. Reinstall the App: If the problem persists, consider uninstalling and then reinstalling the Microsoft Authenticator app. This can help resolve any potential bugs or glitches in the app.
5. Contact Support: If none of the above steps work, you may need to contact Microsoft support for further assistance, especially if you are managing an organization account.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the issues with the Microsoft Authenticator app not displaying or generating the correct authentication codes.

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References:

• Microsoft Authenticator app doesn't show 6-digit OTP code - Microsoft Q&A
• Microsoft Invest - Troubleshoot Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
• Microsoft Monetize - Troubleshooting MFA
• Microsoft Curate - Troubleshoot Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
• Microsoft Authenticator not sending code to my email - Microsoft Q&A