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

Unfortunately, NG, it's the only answer anyone can provide, since if you've enabled 2-Step authentication with a Microsoft Personal account, the form Microsoft provides to recover your account can't be used, so since Microsoft has also removed the ability for Microsoft Support to access personal accounts to protect them, the only way to recover is either performing the appropriate Authenticator Recovery process from the backup of that data in your Google or Apple account which you must have made previously, or by using at least 2 other verification methods which are still valid like username/password, alternate email, text message to phone or Microsoft Recovery code.

Restore account credentials from Microsoft Authenticator - Microsoft Support

This attempt is best done from a Windows device that's been registered with your account in the past, which should be recognized as one factor and preferably one using Windows Hello Face (camera), Fingerprint or PIN, which are already considered 2-Step together.

If that's not possible, then using a Microsoft Edge browser (avoid anything 3rd-party like Chrome) to login using your password, then using either alternate email or text of a code as the 2nd-Step, should be enough to allow access to make the change necessary to remove both the Authenticator's 'Send sign-in notification' option, as well as the 2-Step setting turned Off until you're sure you've got everything fixed and working again.

If you didn't back up the authenticator previously and don't have at least 2 other methods available to try and use from either a registered Windows device using Edge to access your account or entirely from scratch using your username/password and alternate method, then no one can help you recover the account, since 2-Step means exactly that and no method exists to recover without them.

Rob

Thank you for taking the time to help us out I was having the same problems.😀

I understand the issue CoderGremlinKurst, the number of readers in this thread alone shows that many are confused about its use, and I've seen from threads like this one that there are far more traps designed into the authenticator app than even I recognized when I first began to use it myself.

Having spent nearly 50 years in the computing field, most of that using Microsoft products, the complexity that people are required to deal with nowadays due to incessant attacks by professional international criminals, has taken us far beyond the capability for many people to use the security products effectively.

I'm not sure I fully understand your specific issues, which is part of why I suggested those other forums or Microsoft Support itself, but if you wish to try explaining your problem in more detail, I'd be willing to give it a shot or refine my recommendation if you desire. However, since either of those other pathways include internal Microsoft support personnel with more resources than we have here, feel free to use those for more direct access if you prefer.

Rob

The moderator didn't delete your post because I didn't actually even see it until now, since I don't work for Microsoft (none of the Volunteer Moderators here do, we're all just volunteer users of Microsoft products just like you). In fact, no one deleted your post, the forum management just temporarily hid the post while they edited it for abusive language or other forum terms of use or code of conduct violations, that they actually could have deleted the posts for, but instead are trying to give you a chance to redeem yourself, so take the offer or don't but stop the abusive language if you truly wish to receive help.

Yes, the Microsoft Authenticator app can be confusing and difficult for some users, though it's worked very dependably for me for several years and that included when I replaced my phone a couple years ago, which is when it's most likely to break for some who don't understand they must ensure there's a working backup of the Authenticator's passwords, TOTP (Time-based One Time Password key codes and other data stored in the app to be restored to the new phone for any existing Microsoft or 3rd-party accounts to continue to work.

Restore account credentials from Microsoft Authenticator - Microsoft Support

You don't need to have two copies of the Authenticator app operating, though that's possible by using the backup to restore to a second phone, but not really useful long term since the TOTP codes including primary Microsoft account code aren't automatically kept synced if they change for some reason, like the username and password portions of the data are. So, keeping 2 phones working would be more trouble than it's worth, though using this method to backup form an old phone and restore to a new one to ensure it's working properly before getting rid of the old one is a good idea.

From your description, it sounds like you accepted the option to use your Gmail.com Google account name as the name of your Microsoft account, which I purposefully avoided for several reasons, including the fact that it's confusing as you've discovered, since to keep the passwords synced between the accounts to make them easy to use, you must change both the Google and Microsoft account passwords together as well.

Instead, I chose to keep my Google Android phone's Gmail account entirely separate (i.e. the usernames are different, username1 at Gmail, username2 at Outlook.com) and use that as one of my alternate Microsoft account verification methods (and vice versa) if ether I forget my Microsoft password or some other verification method were to fail.

I suggest that you try either chatting with Microsoft support directly per the following or use the Microsoft Q&A Forums to request help, since I though I've used the app for years, I've had no direct experience with the types of problems you seem to be having, so I'd personally be guessing what's truly wrong in your specific case.

Microsoft Authenticator - Microsoft Q&A

Rob

You list everything that is wrong but don’t give solution

Garnet Harrison,

If you don't have at least one alternate authentication item, or two if you'd enabled Two-Step verification on your Microsoft account, then there simply is no solution, the account is lost, assuming you're using a Personal account. You can try the Microsoft Account Recovery form if Two-Step verification wasn't enabled, but unless you have at least some of the items that requires, it's unlikely you'll regain control and only creating a new account is really a viable path.

Those using a Microsoft Work or School account should contact their IT support group or admin. If you are a tiny business using Azure where you are your own administrator, then you should try alternative methods to contact Microsoft Support directly, since as a business you may have other ways to identify yourself and regain access to your paid account that consumers don't.

Rob