How do i remove an account from an authenticator that i can no longer log into?

Accounts in Microsoft Authenticator are only “pointers” to sign‑in methods stored with the account provider (Microsoft, Mint, etc.). Since there is no longer access to the original Authenticator app instance, removal must be done either:

1. From the account’s security settings in a browser (if it is a Microsoft account)
2. Or by resetting/removing Authenticator on the current device (if the goal is just to clean up the app)

1. If the account is a Microsoft account

To remove the old Authenticator registration from the Microsoft side:

1. Go to the Microsoft account security page in a browser and sign in.
2. Open Security → Advanced security options.
3. Under Ways to prove who you are, find the entry that corresponds to the old Authenticator registration (for example, a line like Send sign-in notification with the old device name).
4. Expand it and select Remove.

This removes the old Authenticator method so it no longer appears as a valid sign‑in method for that Microsoft account.

If the Microsoft account was passwordless and only used Authenticator, a password can be added back first:

1. Sign in to Microsoft account Additional security options.
2. Under Passwordless account, select Turn off → Next.
3. Follow the prompts to add a password back, then manage sign‑in methods as above.

2. If the goal is to remove the account from the current Authenticator app

If the account still appears in the Authenticator app on a device that is accessible:

1. Open Microsoft Authenticator.
2. Select the account to remove.
3. Tap the Settings gear.
4. Tap Remove account.

If all accounts should be removed from the app on a device:

• Android
  1. Open the device Settings → Apps.
  2. Select Authenticator.
  3. Go to Storage or Storage & cache.
  4. Tap Clear data → OK.
• iOS
  1. Open Settings → General → Storage.
  2. Select Authenticator.
  3. Tap Offload App.

Clearing data/offloading removes all accounts from that Authenticator instance and it can no longer be used to verify sign‑ins.

If the account is not a Microsoft account (for example, Mint’s own login), the Authenticator entry can only be removed from devices where the app is installed; otherwise, it simply becomes an orphaned registration and must be cleaned up in the Mint (or other provider’s) own security settings.

References:

• How to go passwordless with your Microsoft account
• How to sign out from Authenticator
• Back up account credentials in Microsoft Authenticator