Help with MS Authenticator Registration

Question

1. So I have recently replaced my cellphone.
2. HOW do I "remove the old registered Authenticator device from the security info page and register the account again on the current phone."??

Answer 1

Do NOT remove the app on the old device until you have the app on the new device added first, unless you have other ways to authenticate your account, because adding the new device requires authenticator. Just don't want you to end up in a catch-22 situation.

Personal account: https://account.live.com > Security > Manage how I sign in.

Work/school account: https://myaccount.microsoft.com > Security

You will add it from there, it should give you QR code to scan, and then will have you authenticate from there.

Once it is set up, you can also remove the app on the old device from the same page.

Answer 2

Dear @Moulissa Poole

Since you still have access to the old device, you can use it to approve the authentication request while registering Microsoft Authenticator on the new device.

For a Work or School account, the correct starting point is:

https://aka.ms/MySecurityInfo

From there:

• Sign in with your Work or School account.
• Select Add sign-in method.
• Select Microsoft Authenticator.
• Continue through the setup until the QR code is displayed.
• Open the Microsoft Authenticator app on your phone.
• Select + --› Work or school account.
• Select Scan a QR code and scan the code displayed in the browser.
• Complete the verification test.

The important distinction is that Microsoft Authenticator is not where the authentication method itself is configured. The registration is initiated through the Microsoft Entra Security info page, while the Authenticator app is used to complete the registration and approve authentication requests.

For a Personal Microsoft account, the process is different. Go to:

https://account.microsoft.com/security

Then select Manage how I sign in and add Microsoft Authenticator as a verification method.

If you're looking for settings such as authentication methods, registration requirements, or policies, these are not configured in the Authenticator app. For Work or School accounts, those controls are managed through Microsoft Entra ID and can also be restricted by the organization's configuration.

In short:

Work/School account → https://aka.ms/MySecurityInfo

Personal Microsoft account → https://account.microsoft.com/security

The Authenticator app handles the authentication experience; the account and authentication configuration is managed through the relevant Microsoft portal.

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