How do I get my personal email address into Microsoft Authenticator?

Question

I upgraded to a new phone Tuesday of this week. I used Microsoft Authenticator on my old phone and have installed Microsoft Authenticator on my new phone. I have been able to get my work email address into Microsoft Authenticator, for which I am grateful, since Microsoft Authenticator is what my job requires.

But it has been impossible to get my personal, Microsoft email address into Microsoft Authenticator. Every time I try, it requires me to authenticate my request using Microsoft Authenticator!! Which is impossible, since I haven't even been able to add my personal account to Microsoft Authenticator. I called Microsoft asking for help on Tuesday. They tried to help, but realized that it has to be elevated to a higher level of support. They said I should get a call back in 24 hours. Well, its now 72 hours later and I haven't heard anything from the email address they gave me.

This is a MAJOR PROBLEM because I am now blocked from all my financial institutions, medical services, EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!! Since Microsoft doesn't seem to care about me, I'm here asking for help. How do I get my personal email address back into Microsoft Authenticator?

Answer 1

To add the personal Microsoft account back into Microsoft Authenticator on the new phone, the account’s security settings must first allow a new app-based sign-in method that does not depend on the old Authenticator instance.

Use these steps for a personal Microsoft account:

1. On a device where sign-in to the personal Microsoft account still works (for example, a Windows PC browser session that is already logged in), go to the Microsoft account Security page: https://account.microsoft.com/security.
2. Select Manage how I sign in to view existing sign-in methods.
3. Select Add a new way to sign in or verify.
4. Choose Use an app.
5. If Authenticator is already installed on the new phone, select Set up a different Authenticator app, then select Next to display the QR code.
6. On the new phone, open Microsoft Authenticator, tap the + icon, choose Personal account, then Scan a QR code, and scan the QR code shown in the browser.
   • If the camera cannot be used, in the browser select I can't scan the bar code, and in the app choose Enter code manually, then enter the code shown.

If two-step verification is enabled and the only second factor is the old Authenticator instance, use any still-working alternative method (such as SMS or an email method that is not locked behind Authenticator) to complete these steps. If no alternative method works and there is no way to approve sign-in, direct recovery with support is required, as the account cannot be re-added to Authenticator without successfully proving identity.

Once the account is successfully added to Authenticator on the new phone, it can be used either as:

• A way to verify sign-in (backup factor),
• A way to sign in every time (two-step verification), or
• The only way to sign in (passwordless), configured from the same Security page.

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References:

• How to add your accounts to Microsoft Authenticator