Authenticator Code

Question

Hello. Whenever I try to open an Office App, I have to sign in. When I do that I get a message that a code will be sent to my Microsoft Authenticator app. However, no code shows up. Can anyone please help me.

Answer 1

Since you didn't specify your account type, I will provide solution based on the tag of the initial post. If you're using a personal account (@hotmai, gmail, outlook.com...) instead of a business account (@onmicrosoft.com, @yourdomain.com....), please let me know so that I can provide guidance with more accuracy.

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Good day George Antoan and I’m sorry to hear about the difficulties you’re experiencing. 

If you are no longer receiving verification codes or push notifications from Microsoft Authenticator app, the most appropriate next step in most cases is to contact your organization’s Microsoft 365 IT administrator. 

Please ask your administrator to follow the steps outlined in the guide below to revoke existing MFA sessions and require re registration. 

For reference: Manage authentication methods for Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication - Microsoft Entra ID |… 

This process usually only takes a couple of minutes. 

Once this process is completed, all existing sign in sessions will be cleared. The next time you sign in, you will be prompted to set up Microsoft Authenticator again from the beginning, and verification codes should be delivered normally. If appropriate, you may also wish to ask your administrator to add an additional authentication method, such as SMS or email, to help ensure continued access in the future. 

If you’re unsure who your Microsoft 365 administrator is, the following article can help you identify the correct contact at your workplace: How do I find my Microsoft 365 admin? - Microsoft Support 

Please note that this is a user to user support forum, and I do not have access to administrative tools or permissions to reset or modify MFA settings on your account. Because your account is managed by your organization, only an authorized Microsoft 365 administrator at your institution can make these changes. 

However, if you are the sole administrator for your organization, please let me know so I can guide you through a more direct process to regain access to your account.

I hope this information helps point you in the right direction and allows you to regain access to your account as quickly as possible. 

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Note: Follow the steps in this documentation to enable email notifications if you want to receive email notifications related to this topic.

Answer 2

Follow these steps to troubleshoot Microsoft Authenticator not showing a code when Office asks for it:

1. Understand what to expect
   • For many work/school sign-ins, Microsoft Authenticator does not show a 6‑digit code by default. Instead, it sends a push notification asking to approve the sign-in.
   • When the sign-in page says it is sending a request to Microsoft Authenticator, open the app and look for an approval prompt rather than a code.
2. Check the Authenticator notification
   • Open Microsoft Authenticator on the phone.
   • If no prompt appears, pull down in the app to refresh or tap Refresh if available.
   • Approve the sign-in request from there.
   • Note: For anomalous or unfamiliar sign-ins, notifications may not be pushed automatically; refreshing in the app is required.
3. If still no prompt appears
   • On the Office sign-in screen, choose I don’t have a code or Use a different verification option (wording may vary) and try another method already configured on the account (SMS, email, or another app/device).
   • Avoid making many repeated attempts in a short time; excessive or repetitive requests can cause a temporary block where codes/requests are not sent.
4. Check for blocks or delivery issues
   • If there has been unusual activity or many repeated sign-in attempts, the account may be temporarily blocked from receiving verification prompts or codes. In that case, waiting and trying again later may be required.
5. If the app shows the account but no one-time password (OTP) code
   • For some work/school accounts, the app is configured only for push approvals, not for showing a 6‑digit OTP. In that case, use the notification/approval flow as described above.
   • If the account is misconfigured and no approval prompt or OTP appears at all, the MFA registration may need to be reset by the organization’s help desk or admin so the Authenticator app can be re-registered.
6. If access is completely blocked
   • If there is no other verification method available and no admin can reset MFA, contact Microsoft Support and request escalation to the Data Protection team to reset the authentication method, following the guidance in the referenced articles.

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References:

• Authentication methods in Microsoft Entra ID - Microsoft Authenticator app
• Common problems with two-step verification for a work or school account
• Troubleshoot Microsoft verification code issues
• Microsoft Authenticator app doesn't show 6-digit OTP code - Microsoft Q&A
• Requesting a Tenant Admin MFA Reset - Microsoft Q&A