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

I got a similar problem today when I got a new phone, because the old one crashed, and never came back from oblivion. On my new phone I installed the Authenticator app, but to login to that I have to confirm using the Authenticator app, which I no longer have access to on the old phone. There are NO other options for login. Just Authenticator, not email, not SMS, not anything..

This is just ****.. and yes I should have backed up the old one to the cloud, but I didn't know that was an option before now..

I'm having this exact same problem. Very frustrating when it asks for a code on the authenticator app when you're quite literally on the authenticator app! Any solutions? I'm desperate!

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.

Hello asdf_username

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.

hi

You have probably figured it out by now but I think the problem is you're trying to log in to the authenticator app with an email that needs to be authenticated

To start, log in with a normal account. Like a personal email.

Then once you've logged in you will be able to login to your email that needs to be authenticated

I think anyway

If anyone else is struggling I would try doing this

It just worked for me

I was having the same issue when I got a new phone. I kept getting stuck in the loop, so I went into my desktop outlook app. File -> Office Account -> Manage Account. On the web page click on security info (this will require you to verify your identity using you cell phone). Once you are verified you will be able to delete your old device from the authenticator. Now you will be able log in to authenticator on your new device without being stuck in the loop. My understanding is that even though I deleted all data off of and reset my old device, the authenticator app was still sending codes to it.