Where do I find the QR codes for Microsoft 365 accounts?

Neil Benson 256 Reputation points
2022-05-24T21:00:17.77+00:00

I have successfully restored Authenticator to a new phone. All the accounts are working except for the five Microsoft 365 work accounts that I use.

They all tell me, "Action required. Scan the QR code provided by your organization to finish recovering this account".

When I log into My Account (myaccount.microsoft.com), I can't find anywhere where a QR code is displayed.

Where do I find the QR codes that Authenticator is looking for?

Microsoft Authenticator
Microsoft Authenticator
A Microsoft app for iOS and Android devices that enables authentication with two-factor verification, phone sign-in, and code generation.
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Accepted answer
  1. Dave Patrick 426.1K Reputation points MVP
    2022-05-25T00:07:09.29+00:00

    Try here.
    https://account.activedirectory.windowsazure.com/r/#/profile

    then additional security verification

    8 people found this answer helpful.

18 additional answers

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  1. Takudzwa A Vafana 146 Reputation points
    2022-11-28T12:31:26.327+00:00

    After hours of searching here is what I found, I hope it helps someone

    1. Go to your profile (https://mysignins.microsoft.com/security-info)
    2. Click Security info
    3. You will see these options 264822-image.png
    4. Delete the Microsoft Authenticator
    5. Click add sign-in method
    6. Pick Authenticator and it will give you a step-by-step guide to re-adding and you are all set,

    I hope this helps someone, =)

    29 people found this answer helpful.

  2. Neil Benson 256 Reputation points
    2022-05-25T00:01:33.93+00:00

    I've wandered all over My Account but I don't see anywhere to regenerate the QR code.
    205216-image.png

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Jim Lewis 16 Reputation points
    2022-09-18T23:07:58.047+00:00

    To provide the additional security verification by scanning a QRcode for my Microsoft work accounts after moving to a new iPhone, I found the following paragraph on a Microsoft Support page helpful. (this advice is for when just recovering your Authenticator account from a backup on your new device is not sufficient to restore full account verification).

    I have a new mobile device and I want to add it

    If you have a new mobile device, you'll need to set it up to work with two-factor verification. This is a multi-step solution:

       Set up your device to work with your account by following the steps in the Set up my account for two-step verification article.  
     
      Update your account and device information in the [Additional security verification page][1]. Perform the update by deleting your old device and adding your new one. For  
          more information, see the [Manage your two-factor verification method settings article][2].  
    

    This advice is found on the following Microsoft Support page down the page a bit: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/common-problems-with-two-step-verification-for-a-work-or-school-account-63acbb9b-16a1-47b9-8619-6a865e8071a5

    It is helpful to be able to approve any required logons to the system that you need to verify on the new device using the Authenticator account approval on your old device. After you're logged on to your account on a computer go to the Additional Security Verification page (link quoted above)

    When you get to the Additional Security Verification Page, click on the button to Setup Authenticator App and you will generate a QRcode that will allow you to authenticate your account on your new phone. You can delete accounts on past phone from the same page.

    For one account at a university where I'm just a user, trying to follow the Additional Security Verification link didn't work. I was just bounced back to my account profile that I had been able to access using the Authenticator approval on my old device. For that account, and perhaps a simpler way to begin with than the above method. I just clicked on Security Info in the left navigation pane of my account profile. When the Security Info page came up, I just clicked on + Add Sign-in Method. Click through all the steps to pick the Microsoft Authenticator and your verification method (I pick NOTIFY) until you get to the following pop-up dialog:

    242333-image.png

    When you click NEXT, you'll get a QRcode to authenticate your account on your new phone. The problem with all these account setups, AFAIK, is you don't get to name or rename any of the authorizations. I wish Microsoft would fix that. I see now that DSPatrick in his next to last post above mentions + Add Sign-in Method as the solution, too.

    There are different instructions for further authenticating personal Microsoft accounts on a new device basically requiring sign-in with your user name and password for the account you wish to verify. If you've already set up two-factor authentication, it's helpful to still have Microsoft Authenticator working for the account on the old device to approve the sign-in on the new device that you're verifying.

    3 people found this answer helpful.

  4. Dave Patrick 426.1K Reputation points MVP
    2022-05-24T21:05:00.453+00:00

    Sounds like you may need an account administrator to reset the two factor setup.

    --please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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