MFA & Verification Issues

Fix Microsoft 365, Project, and Planner Still Requiring MFA

Natalie Taylor Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to sign in to Microsoft 365, Project, and Planner without multi-factor authentication, but is still being prompted for verification.

How to Fix Microsoft 365, Project, and Planner Requiring MFA After Disabling

Product: Microsoft 365, Project, Planner
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Signing in to Microsoft 365 cloud applications after attempting to remove MFA or passwordless sign-in settings.
Observed behavior: The applications continue to require additional MFA verification during the sign-in process despite user-level settings being removed.

Before you start

Ensure you have access to a Microsoft 365 global administrator account, as resolving persistent MFA prompts typically requires checking tenant-wide Security Defaults and Conditional Access policies in Microsoft Entra ID.

Solution 1Recommended

Identify Admin Status and Check Security Defaults

Verify if you are the tenant administrator and check if organizational Security Defaults are overriding individual MFA settings.

In Microsoft 365, tenant-wide Security Defaults often override individual user MFA settings. Even if you turn off MFA for a specific account, the organizational policy will force the prompt.

Test M365 Home Page Sign-in

Navigate to the Microsoft 365 home page and attempt to sign in to determine if the MFA prompt appears at the root level or only for specific apps.

Access Microsoft Entra admin center

Review Security Defaults

Click on 'Manage security defaults' at the bottom of the page. If it is enabled, it forces MFA for all users. You can disable it here, though it is highly recommended to keep it enabled for security.

Identify Admin Status and Check Security Defaults

Security Consideration: Disabling Security Defaults leaves your organization vulnerable. Consider using Conditional Access policies instead to fine-tune which apps require MFA.

Solution 2

Review Conditional Access Policies

If you have Entra ID P1 or P2, conflicting Conditional Access policies might force MFA specifically for Planner or Project.

Solution 3

Check Sign-in Logs for Policy Details

Use Azure AD sign-in logs to pinpoint exactly which policy is triggering the unexpected MFA prompt.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Microsoft 365 keep asking for MFA even though I turned it off for my user?

This usually happens because 'Security Defaults' are enabled in your organization's Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD). This global setting forces MFA for all users, overriding individual user settings.

Can I disable MFA for a specific Microsoft app like Planner or Project?

Yes, but this requires an Entra ID Premium license. Your IT administrator can create Conditional Access policies to require or bypass MFA for specific cloud applications.

How do I find out which policy is triggering my MFA prompt?

A tenant administrator can review the Sign-in logs in the Microsoft Entra admin center. These logs detail exactly which Conditional Access policy or Security Default triggered the multifactor authentication requirement for a specific sign-in attempt.

Do I need admin rights to stop the MFA prompts in Planner and Project?

Yes. Because these prompts are typically driven by organization-wide security policies rather than local app settings, you must be a Microsoft 365 tenant administrator to view and modify the authentication requirements.

Login & Account Issues