Can’t log in

Question

Hello,

My Microsoft authentication app hasn’t been working for the past month. I can’t log into any of my school accounts and it’s really frustrating. It tells me to check my app for the code, and then sends me no notifications, and i’m not able to locate it on the app. Moreover, I deleted the app to try and resolve the issue and now I can’t access the app whatsoever.

It is finals week so I would really appreciate help resolving this issue.

Answer 1

Hi @Greyson O'Sullivan, 

Good day, and I appreciate how clearly you outlined your concern. I'm sorry to hear you're having trouble logging into your Microsoft account.    

This issue commonly occurs when your Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) settings need to be reset, particularly after changing devices or reinstalling the Microsoft Authenticator app. In addition, when the Authenticator account is removed or the app is reinstalled, the sign in request may still be trying to reach the previously registered Authenticator instance, so nothing appears on the current installation until the account is added back and verified again. 

Since you are using a work or school email address, the MFA settings are managed by your school's IT department. For assistance with resetting or updating your MFA, you will need to contact them directly to resolve this.    

Please contact your university's IT Help Desk or support team and explain the situation. You can say: "I am stuck in a login loop in the Microsoft Authenticator app. I cannot get the code to sign in."    

Specifically ask them to “Reset my MFA settings or allow me to re-register for MFA". This is a standard request, and your school's IT team should be able to assist you with it.   

You can also share the steps in this Microsoft article for them so they can help reset your MFA settings for you Manage user authentication methods for Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication.   Once your school's in has reset your MFA, the next time you log in to your account, you will be guided through the process of setting up the Microsoft Authenticator app again from the beginning by scanning a QR code. This will break the loop and allow you to access your account normally.    

Please note that forum moderators do not have access to user account settings and cannot assist with logging in, resetting passwords, or changing access rights. While we do not have access to internal systems or administrative tools required to resolve account-specific or backend-related issues but we’ll continue doing our best to support you within the scope of our responsibilities.      

I hope this helps you regain access to your account quickly. I'm glad to assist and truly hope the information provided has been useful. Please feel free to reach out anytime if you need further assistance.   

If you find my post helpful, kindly consider marking it as the accepted answer. Doing so can assist others in the community who may have similar questions in finding solutions more quickly.   

Thank you for your kindness and contributions to the forum. 

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Answer 2

Follow these steps in order:

1. Try another sign-in method (if available)

• On the Microsoft sign-in page for the school account, when prompted to approve in Authenticator, look for a link such as “I can’t use my Microsoft Authenticator app right now” or “Use a different verification option”.
• If SMS, phone call, or email verification is listed, choose one of those to sign in.
• After signing in, go to the security/MFA settings page for the account and re-add Microsoft Authenticator as a method.

2. Fix “Authentication did not complete” / no notification issues If Authenticator is installed again but still not working:

• Ensure the Microsoft Authenticator app is unlocked on the device.
• Turn notifications on for Microsoft Authenticator in the phone’s settings and make sure they are not set to “silent”. Also check text messages in case codes are sent there.
• Install the latest version of Microsoft Authenticator from the official app store.
• Make sure the phone has a working internet connection; if needed, switch between Wi‑Fi and mobile data.
• Ensure the date and time on the device are set correctly (preferably automatic).

3. If locked out with no working method Because the app was deleted and there is no working MFA method, the MFA settings must be reset by an administrator:

• Contact the school’s IT/help desk or Microsoft 365 administrator and explain that access to the school account is blocked because Microsoft Authenticator was removed and no codes are received.
• Ask them to clear/reset the MFA methods or require re-register multifactor authentication for the account in the Microsoft Entra admin center.
• After they reset MFA, sign in again; the system will prompt to set up Microsoft Authenticator from scratch (scan QR code, confirm test sign-in, etc.).

4. If repeated attempts are blocked If many failed sign-in attempts have been made:

• Wait before trying again, or use a different MFA method if one becomes available.
• If suspicious activity is suspected, ask the school IT admin to review Microsoft Entra sign-in logs and confirm the account is secure.

Because this is a school (education) account and access is fully blocked, only the organization’s IT/administrator can ultimately reset the MFA configuration so the account can be used again.

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References:

• Troubleshoot problems with Microsoft Authenticator
• Authentication did not complete
• Common problems with two-step verification for a work or school account