Cannot access account with Authenticator because it wants me to use Authenticator to authenticate

Anonymous
2024-01-31T23:31:52+00:00

I can't post this from the account I'm having issues with, but I am trying to get an Authenticator account set up for my Office 365 account, but whenever I try to do that, it asks for the code in Authenticator. But since it isn't set up with Authenticator yet, I cannot give it a code. I'm stuck in a catch 22. I've heard I can get a new QR code if I login and look under security settings, but I cannot login without getting my code from Authenticator, which I don't have set up yet. And I called MS support and they sent me a link to do it, but it will not let me access without the Authentication code from Authenticator, which I cannot access, because it isn't set up yet.

Any help from anyone? Just switch to Google? The only reason I need to do this is because I changed the account password. It didn't need me to authenticate to do that. But it does need me to update that same password change on my phone. So stupid.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Subscription, account, billing | For home | Windows

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments

77 answers

Sort by: Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2025-04-22T08:50:33+00:00

    Hi there,

    I'm having the same issue, but I cannot follow your instructions as above as even doing that asks me to verify using the Authenticator app.

    Please help.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2025-04-30T01:51:10+00:00

    Hey Roderick, there's a bunch of us with this problem, and nothing you posted helps. I have to login to pay for my god damned service.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2025-04-30T11:07:50+00:00

    I had to call the support number, and say I was a business user and say, "Trouble logging into my M365 account." when prompted.

    Finally got a person. They took all my info and said an engineer needed to be assigned. Then I waited. No contact. Called back, did the same thing but with a ticket number now. Talked to a person and they apologized and said they would escalate. Got an email within an hour with an engineer assigned but would be a few days before they could get to me. they did get back to me and after a few call backs and confirmation of identity for both Admins on account, all fixed but (way too much) patience was required.

    Seems like getting a new phone caused the Authenticator to break and both our admins upgraded phones at the same time.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2025-05-15T20:52:29+00:00

    what is funny is I am having the same problem with google and "googled" a search for the problem ... well ... google search works fine but the problem also exists on google authenticator.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  5. Anonymous
    2025-05-18T11:01:32+00:00

    It says "cannot remove Authenticator this time "

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments