Authenticator

Follow these steps to troubleshoot missing Microsoft Authenticator notifications, especially since it is needed for work:

1. Confirm notifications are supported for the account
   • Push notifications only work for Microsoft personal accounts and work or school accounts. They do not work for third‑party accounts like Google or Facebook.
   • For work or school accounts, the organization’s IT admin can disable one‑click/push notifications. If this is a work account and nothing below helps, contact the IT admin to confirm that push notifications are allowed.
2. Check if notifications are going to an old device
   • If Authenticator is still active on an older phone, push notifications may be sent there instead of the current phone.
   • If possible, open Authenticator on the old phone and see if prompts appear there.
   • Then remove the old device:
     • For a personal Microsoft account: go to the two‑step verification area of the Account Security page and turn off verification for the old device.
     • For a work or school account: go to the two‑step verification area of My Apps or the organization’s company portal and turn off verification for the old device.
3. Re‑add the account in Authenticator (especially after changing phones)
   • On the phone, open Microsoft Authenticator.
   • Remove the problematic account from the app.
   • Add it again:
     • For a personal Microsoft account: tap Add account → Personal Microsoft account and sign in with username and password, allowing notifications.
     • For a work or school account: follow the sign‑in or QR‑code instructions from the organization’s security/MFA setup page and allow notifications when prompted.
4. Fix “no notifications when app is closed”
   • On the phone, check:
     • The device is not in Do Not Disturb or Quiet mode.
     • Other apps can receive notifications. If not, there may be a phone OS or network notification issue.
   • In the phone’s Settings → Notifications:
     • Ensure Microsoft Authenticator notifications are allowed.
     • Enable sound/vibration if alerts are needed.
   • If no apps receive notifications reliably, check network connectivity (Wi‑Fi/mobile data) or contact the mobile provider/phone vendor about the Apple/Android notification channel.
5. Resolve “Enable push notifications to receive alerts” or silent prompts
   • In device Settings, confirm push notifications are enabled for Authenticator and that the phone has internet access.
   • Make sure the app is not locked when trying to approve a sign‑in; unlock the app and try again.
   • If prompts are still missing, remove the account from Authenticator and add it again, then retry sign‑in.
6. Check time, app version, and network
   • Set the phone’s date and time to automatic, then restart the device.
   • Install the latest version of Microsoft Authenticator from the app store.
   • If prompts still fail, switch between Wi‑Fi and mobile data and try again.
7. If still blocked from work account
   • If this is a work or school account and none of the above resolves it, contact the organization’s IT admin and ask them to:
     • Verify MFA methods for the account.
     • Reset the Authenticator registration or MFA methods so they can be set up again on the current phone.

References:

• Microsoft Authenticator FAQs
• Troubleshoot problems with Microsoft Authenticator