how to fix my authticator app so that i recieve the notifications.

Bradley Fox 0 Reputation points
2026-09-14T13:20:47.88+00:00

i need to access my email for school, but in order to do that i need to approve this is the autheticator app, to which when i do, the number does not appear in my app and leaves me with not being able to access my email. why is this happening and how can i solve this?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Subscription, account, billing | For education | Other
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  1. Killian N 3,900 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-09-14T13:33:03.9233333+00:00

    Hi Bradley Fox,

    If Microsoft Authenticator is not sending the approval notification and the authentication number does not appear in your app, please try the following:

    • Make sure Microsoft Authenticator is updated and notifications are enabled.
    • Check that your device has a stable Internet connection and that the date/time are set automatically.
    • If available, select "Sign in another way" and use another verification method.

    If no alternative verification method is available, since this is a university account, the MFA settings are managed by your university IT administrator. Unfortunately, this isn't something that can be reset from the user side.

    I'd recommend reaching out to your university's IT administrator and explaining that you're unable to sign in because you're stuck and the Microsoft Authenticator app and are no longer receiving authentication prompts or codes.

    You can specifically ask whether they can:

    • Reset your MFA settings
    • Require MFA re-registration
    • Remove your existing Authenticator registration so you can set it up again

    You may also want to share the following Microsoft article with them: Manage authentication methods for Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication - Microsoft Entra ID | …

    If you are unsure who your IT administrator is, you can refer to this official Microsoft guide for assistance: How do I find my Microsoft 365 admin? - Microsoft Support   

    User's image

    Once your IT administrator resets your MFA registration, you should be able to sign in again and go through the Microsoft Authenticator setup process from the beginning, including scanning a new QR code on your device.

    I hope this points you in the right direction. If you receive any updates from your IT team or run into any issues along the way, feel free to reply back with more details and I'll be happy to help further.

    Best regards,

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  2. AI answer

    2026-09-14T13:21:05.9833333+00:00

    This usually happens because the sign-in prompt is not reaching Microsoft Authenticator, the app is locked, notifications are disabled or silent, the app is outdated, or the phone has a network/settings issue.

    Try these steps in order:

    1. Open Authenticator manually If the sign-in screen is showing a number, Authenticator may already be waiting for number matching inside the app even if no pop-up appeared.
    2. Make sure the app is unlocked For work or school accounts, the approval box might not appear if Microsoft Authenticator is locked.
    3. Check notification settings on the phone
      • Turn off Do Not Disturb or Quiet mode.
      • In the phone settings, make sure Authenticator notifications are allowed.
      • If alerts arrive but make no sound or vibration, enable sound/vibration for Authenticator notifications.
    4. Check whether other apps can send notifications If no apps are notifying, the problem may be the phone’s network connection or the Android/iPhone notification channel.
    5. Check network connectivity Switch between Wi‑Fi and mobile data and make sure Airplane mode is off.
    6. Update Microsoft Authenticator Install the latest version. Microsoft does not support Authenticator app versions more than 12 months old.
    7. Check device settings Make sure the phone’s Date & time are correct.
    8. Turn off battery optimization for Authenticator In Authenticator, tap Settings and select Turn off battery optimization.
    9. If only the school account is affected, remove and add that account again Remove the problematic account from Authenticator, then add it again and allow notifications when prompted.
    10. Restart the phone A restart can resolve sync issues between the sign-in service and the app.
    11. If the prompt still never appears Open Authenticator, go to the app’s top-level menu, and select Send feedback to send logs.
    12. Because this is a school account, contact the school IT admin if the issue continues If self-service steps do not restore prompts, the school’s IT admin needs to help with the account’s sign-in method or re-registration.

    If another sign-in method is available on the sign-in page, select Other ways to sign in or I can't use my Microsoft Authenticator app right now and use that method temporarily.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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