Disabling mandatory MS Authenticator app

Anonymous
2023-09-12T11:08:43+00:00

Good afternoon,

We have text and call authentication set up as multi factor authentication for our users.

This has worked very well up until recently, when Microsoft have started to force the option of the authenticator app on users, and made it unskippable despite our setup.

The option to skip is not present on the "improve your sign ins" screen.

Where is the setting to disable the forcing of the authenticator app for the user?

I have seen on other posts there are options to disable this. For example here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/1338546/users-are-being-forced-to-use-microsoft-authentica

If, as in the screenshot in the "accepted answer" post we change the registration campaign status to disabled, does this remove the enforced app prompt?

At present it is currently set to "Microsoft managed".

We are fine with the app as an OPTION however it should not be mandatory as it does exclude people who do not have the latest phones, or indeed, any smart phone.

Chris

Microsoft 365 and Office | Subscription, account, billing | For business | Other

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-02-04T03:07:09+00:00

    Very user-unfriendly.... I refuse to download the MS authenticator app; have switched to another supplier.. Good-bye Microsoft! Nobody else requires the download of some additional app.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-02-13T17:39:39+00:00

    Your MS Authenticator does not work with all versions of Android devices. How do log in to the Azure Portal to disable the Authenticator, when I need the MS Authenticator to log in to Azure

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-02-13T16:26:05+00:00

    Still struggling with this. I've tried only allowing the app for a select security group and disabling it altogether, and its still the giant default option when new staff go to the registration link.

    I disabled the campaign, I can't go into security defaults because that screen isn't accessible if you use conditional access.

    Any other thoughts?

    If you have any location-based Conditional Access Policies, Microsoft now uses Microsoft Authenticator to verify locations; even if the policy is "Report-Only". Check ALL of your Conditional Access Policies; it will be one of these causing the Authenticator requirement. We learned this the hard way.

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-01-03T21:07:10+00:00

    Does this take time to take effect? I performed the steps but I am still getting the Authenticator requirement

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  5. Anonymous
    2023-11-13T23:25:57+00:00

    David,

    I assume you tried to turn it on thinking it would help, and maybe even heard some of the buzz words such as additional security, etc. I am also assuming that you are just a regular user with your own Microsoft 365 account. In order to disable this you should be able to disable and remove the Microsoft Authenticator app requirements by doing the following:

    To disable Microsoft Authenticator:

    1. Open the app on your device.
    2. Navigate to Settings and select Accounts.
    3. Choose the account you want to disable.
    4. Toggle the switch for two-step verification.

    To remove Microsoft Authenticator:

    1. Log in to your Microsoft account via a web browser.
    2. Go to Security settings and click on Additional security options.
    3. Choose Manage my sign-in methods.
    4. Select Remove next to Microsoft Authenticator.

    https://www.process.st/how-to/turn-off-microsoft-authenticator/

    I would also suggest that you do not remove it unless there is a major reason, such as inability to access your account. Please also consider starting another thread should you need further assistance.

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