Microsoft Authenticator is asking me to authenticate using Microsoft Authenticator to use Microsoft Authenticator

So when the Admins are locked out and cannot remove the 2FA, then what? It is not simple at all, and for the last five days, Microsoft support has been unable to fix it. I just want my data back at this point, and I will gladly move to another provider.

sfry77,

You're in the wrong forums, these are Community forums for consumers with personal accounts and manned by volunteers, so there's no aid available for business concerns or accounts of any sort.

The Microsoft Learn - Q&A forums are where you need to ask these questions.

Questions - Microsoft Q&A

Rob

So when the Admins are locked out and cannot remove the 2FA, then what? It is not simple at all, and for the last five days, Microsoft support has been unable to fix it. I just want my data back at this point, and I will gladly move to another provider.

Oh, this is not rare. I have been locked out of my business account for four days and Microsoft is clueless on how to help. I am the Global admin so the account is worthless. I can't even switch to google unless I am okay with leaving all my data behind. Forces using Authentcator but Authenticator just keeps looping. There are dozens, probably hundreds or more of people with the same complaint. Microsoft security defaults are effectivley shutting down business accounts daily for at least two years.

Hhhhhhhhhhh I am sorry for you. This is the reply I recieved from microsoft:

Thank you for posting in the Microsoft Community. We are happy to help you.

Based on your description I understand you cannot access the admin center due to the lost access to your authenticator app. If there is another admin they can re-register your authentication and you can register a new backup. Steps for administrator reference: Sign in to the Microsoft Entra admin center (Azure Active Directory) as at least an Authentication Administrator. > Users > All users > Choose the user for whom you wish to add an authentication method and select Authentication methods. > Revoke multi-factor authentication > Re-register multi-factor authentication.

 <image>

If no other Global Admin (GA) is available, please contact our hotline, and the support team there will create a Service Request ticket for you, Find Microsoft 365 for business support phone numbers by country or region - Microsoft 365 admin | Microsoft Learn.

A user in my organization was having the same problem and looking for an answer I found this thread.

I was able to figure it out so I figured I'd come back here and let you guys know how I fixed it, in case it's helpful to someone else.

The problem was that the user had installed the Authenticator app in a previous phone which she lost in a lake, so when she was trying to install the Authenticator app on the new phone, the system was trying to authenticate the account sending a code to the old phone, creating a loop.

To fix it, I logged in to MS Admin Center and went to the Identity (Microsoft Entra) Admin Center.

In Entra, went to Users and clicked on the user with the issue.

In the user's profile, click on Authentication methods under the Manage section, and under Usable authentication methods delete the Authentication method "Microsoft Authenticator" which said iPhone 11 in the Detail column (the user's old phone was an iPhone 11, that's how I knew!)

After deleting the old authentication method, the user was able to setup the authenticator app on the new phone.

I hope this helps someone.