Authenticator App Sign-In Request not appearing

Question

Authenticator App Sign-In Request not appearing

Ryan Doolan 20

I am trying to sign into my Microsoft account and when I get to the stage to check my phone and select the number in the sign-in request, the prompt is not appearing. Even after I enter the authenticator app it doesn't appear, even though the account is registered on the authenticator app.

I believe this started to not work when I was requested to change my password after 72 days and I could not remember what my current password was. I tried too many times which lead to my account being blocked. I then went through the process of trying to reset my password until I came to this stage to click the correct two-digit number on the authenticator app notification, which does not appear.

As of now, I can't seem to find a way to reset my password.

Carolyne 1,151 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2026-06-03T09:09:12.52+00:00
Hi Ryan,

Since your account was temporarily blocked due to multiple sign-in attempts, the Authenticator push notifications won't appear until the block is lifted and you complete password reset through an alternative method.

To resolve this:

Reset your password via the self-service portal:

Go to https://aka.ms/sspr (https://aka.ms/sspr) — use an alternate verification method (SMS, email, or security questions) instead of the Authenticator push notification.

If no alternate methods are available:

Complete the account recovery form at https://account.live.com/acsr (https://account.live.com/acsr) (for personal accounts) or contact your IT admin (for work/school accounts) to manually unblock and reset credentials.

After regaining access, fix push notifications:

Ensure Authenticator notifications are enabled: Phone Settings → Notifications → Microsoft Authenticator → Allow

Disable battery optimization for the Authenticator app

Open the Authenticator app and verify your account shows as active

Visit https://aka.ms/mfasetup (https://aka.ms/mfasetup) to confirm Authenticator is your default method

Helpful documentation:

Reset your password https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/reset-a-forgotten-microsoft-account-password-eff4f067-5042-c1a3-fe72-b68f1bc863da

Troubleshoot the Microsoft Authenticator app https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/troubleshoot-the-microsoft-authenticator-app-d0242546-71ea-43b4-98c5-c82729846999

Self-service password reset (https://aka.ms/sspr)

Your answer

Carolyne 1,151 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2026-06-03T09:09:12.52+00:00

Hi Ryan,

Since your account was temporarily blocked due to multiple sign-in attempts, the Authenticator push notifications won't appear until the block is lifted and you complete password reset through an alternative method.

To resolve this:

Reset your password via the self-service portal:

Go to https://aka.ms/sspr (https://aka.ms/sspr) — use an alternate verification method (SMS, email, or security questions) instead of the Authenticator push notification.

If no alternate methods are available:

Complete the account recovery form at https://account.live.com/acsr (https://account.live.com/acsr) (for personal accounts) or contact your IT admin (for work/school accounts) to manually unblock and reset credentials.

After regaining access, fix push notifications:

Ensure Authenticator notifications are enabled: Phone Settings → Notifications → Microsoft Authenticator → Allow

Disable battery optimization for the Authenticator app

Open the Authenticator app and verify your account shows as active

Visit https://aka.ms/mfasetup (https://aka.ms/mfasetup) to confirm Authenticator is your default method

Helpful documentation:

Reset your password https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/reset-a-forgotten-microsoft-account-password-eff4f067-5042-c1a3-fe72-b68f1bc863da

Troubleshoot the Microsoft Authenticator app https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/troubleshoot-the-microsoft-authenticator-app-d0242546-71ea-43b4-98c5-c82729846999

Self-service password reset (https://aka.ms/sspr)