(Repost of unanswered question) How can I remove my 2FA account?

For an Outlook.com/Microsoft consumer account, a 2FA “account” is just the set of verification/sign-in methods (Authenticator app, phone, email, security key, etc.). To remove it, either turn off two-step verification entirely or remove the specific verification methods that enforce it.

For a personal Microsoft account (Hotmail/Outlook.com):

1. Turn off two-step verification (disables 2FA for the account)
   1. Go to the Microsoft account Security page: https://account.microsoft.com/security and sign in.
   2. Select Manage how I sign in to show the ways to prove identity.
   3. Under Additional security → Two-step verification, choose Turn off.
   4. Follow the on-screen instructions.
   After this, sign-in will only require the password (less secure). Ensure at least one valid recovery method remains on the account.
2. Remove specific verification methods (e.g., Authenticator app, phone, email) If the goal is to remove a particular 2FA method (for example, an old phone or Authenticator instance) but keep 2FA overall:
   1. Sign in to the Advanced security options page of the Microsoft account (from the Security tab, choose Advanced security options).
   2. Under Ways to prove who you are, locate the method to remove (for example, Send sign-in notification with a device name, or a phone/email).
   3. Expand that method and select Remove.
   4. Confirm by selecting Remove again.
   Important points from the documentation:
   • Do not remove all security info unless there is a security risk and new info has already been added.
   • If all security info is removed, the account goes into a restricted state for 30 days during which security/billing changes are blocked, though email and other services still work.
3. If using Microsoft Authenticator and the phone was lost/replaced
   • Sign in to the Microsoft account dashboard → Security → Advanced security options.
   • Under Ways to prove who you are, find the Authenticator-based method (for example, Send sign-in notification with the old device) and remove it as above.
   • If passwordless sign-in via Authenticator was enabled, add another two-step method (SMS, call, or email code) first so that sign-in is still possible when removing the Authenticator method.

If this is a work/school (Microsoft Entra ID) account rather than a personal Outlook.com account, the 2FA/MFA reset must be done by an administrator via Require re-register multifactor authentication in the Microsoft Entra admin center; end users cannot remove their own MFA requirement in that scenario.

References:

• How to use two-step verification with your Microsoft account
• Removing a sign-in verification method
• How to go passwordless with your Microsoft account
• Can't set up MFA because five devices are already registered to use an authenticator app
• Common problems with two-step verification for a work or school account