Microsoft authenticator

Question

I have bought a new phone and logged into the authenticator app. Now both of my devices are logged in, however when I log into somewhere the notification gets sent to my old phone. Im wondering what I should do to make the app send verification to the new phone and not the old one.

Answer 1

This happens because push notifications are often still tied to the device where Microsoft Authenticator was last used. Adding Authenticator to the new phone does not automatically remove the old phone.

Do this:

1. Approve sign-ins on the old phone if it is still available. That lets access continue while the new phone is being set up.
2. Remove the old phone from Authenticator sign-in.
   • For a personal Microsoft account: go to the two-step verification area of your Account Security page and turn off verification for the old device.
   • For a work or school account: go to the two-step verification area of your My Apps page or your organization’s company portal and turn off verification for the old device.
3. Finish setup on the new phone.
   • For a personal Microsoft account, if notifications are not working yet, re-register the device in Authenticator: open Add Account in the app, choose Personal Microsoft Account, and sign in again.
   • For a work or school account, open the restored account in Authenticator and sign in again if it shows Sign in to add your account.
4. If a sign-in prompt still goes to the old phone, use another verification method such as SMS if that option is available, then complete the new phone setup and remove the old device.

Important: deleting the app from the old phone alone is not enough. The old device must also be unregistered from the account.

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References:

• Microsoft Authenticator FAQs
• Transfer Microsoft Authenticator account entries to a new phone