Small business (one user) locked out of Microsoft Authenticator on update

Hi Henry,

Thank you for sharing the details of your situation.  

If you are the only administrator and no alternative authentication method is available, I recommend contacting Microsoft Support and requesting assistance from the Data Protection team. They can guide you through the tenant ownership verification process and help recover access to the administrator account.

Since your previous calls were disconnected, I recommend calling again and using the prompts below to navigate the automated system. Several users who experienced similar tenant lockout situations have reported that this approach helped them get past the automated system and reach the appropriate support team.

• Please try locating the appropriate hotline for your region here: Customer service phone numbers - Microsoft Support  
• 

Here are some tips and an example of a prompt to help you navigate the IVR more effectively:  

(When you call the support number, you may hear an introduction of about 30 seconds such as "you can visit the link...". You can ignore this introduction and wait until you are presented with the options. Then press "1" as a business email user, and again "1" for technical help.)    

In some regions, the initial interaction may be automated, so here’s a general idea of how the conversation might go to help you prepare:      

• What kind of problem are you experiencing?         
• Answer: Authenticator         
• What products do you use?         
• Answer: Office 365 for business         
• Is this for an education or company account?         
• Answer: For companies         
• Are you an administrator?         
• Answer: Yes         
• Are there any other administrators in your organization?         
• Answer: No. I am the only admin in my tenant          
• Do you need a... Service request?          
• Answer: Yes. I need to create a ticket. Please send me direct to the Data Protection Teams.      

During the phone call, you will need to provide the information associated with your subscription, such as your company name, billing details, phone number, and an alternate email address, etc. This information allows the Data Protection team to verify your identity and securely assist you in regaining access to your administrator account.      

I also recommend calling during business hours. In my experience, it can be difficult to get through to the correct support queue, and automated systems don't always work as expected. If you can't get through on your first try, I suggest trying again later or at a different time. 

I know being locked out of the only admin account can be stressful, but contacting the Data Protection team is the correct path forward in this scenario. 

I hope these steps help you create a support ticket successfully and move closer to regaining access to your administrator account. While I’m not able to intervene directly, guiding you to the right support team is the most effective help I can provide here.  

Hope you're able to get this resolved soon. 

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