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

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-09-11T08:05:52+00:00

    good morning,

    I have the same problem, but it doesn't allow me in mysignins.microsoft.com, because it still asks me for a code from the authenticator app, which is still not working. The authenticator app is also asking me for a code. What should I do?

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-10-07T21:06:50+00:00

    I have this same exact issue. I used G00gle for 11 years and never had one single problem like this! Something like this was my biggest fear about switching. The only reason why we even switched was so we could more seamlessly draft joint word docs. I guess the joke is on us for thinking it would be a wise change.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-10-10T09:51:10+00:00

    Hi there!

    I had the same issue, and here’s how I solved it. I accessed mysignins.microsoft.com using my Windows PC. Since I had set up Windows Hello authentication, the site just asked for my 4-digit Windows Hello authentication code, and I was in. From there, I followed the instructions to delete the corrupted Microsoft Authenticator sign-in method and added it again. Booommmm! Problem solved!

    Hope this helps!

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-10-17T05:33:50+00:00

    I had the same absolutely infuriating problem with my authenticator app. I tried looking everywhere for a solution and neither the internet nor Microsoft has helped. After a lot of hair-pulling, I finally found a workaround. I don't know if it'll work for everyone, but hopefully it helps someone.

    1. Opened up a Microsoft app/software on my laptop, like Copilot or M365. (I was logged into the account I had issues with.)
    2. Clicked the account bubble in the top right corner.
    3. Opened up the blue "My Account" URL.
    4. Clicked the tab on the left labled "Security Info".
    5. From there, I deleted the Authenticator app sign in option and replaced it with a code sent by sms.

    Hopefully those instructions are clear enough and they help.

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-10-23T00:21:44+00:00

    This is the solution, thank you so much for the workaround, I was struggling with this for the whole morning

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