MFA & Verification Issues

Fix Microsoft Authenticator Code Not Received After Reinstalling

Anum Mushtaq Oct 13, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is unable to complete two-step verification because they are not receiving a code in the Microsoft Authenticator app after reinstalling it.

How to Fix Microsoft Authenticator Code Not Received After Reinstalling

Product: Microsoft Authenticator
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to log into a company or client organization account after reinstalling the Authenticator app on a device.
Observed behavior: Credentials are accepted, but no two-factor authentication code is received to complete the sign-in process, and the client organization is missing from the app.

Before you start

Ensure you have an active internet connection and check if there are alternative sign-in methods (like text message or email verification) enabled for your account before proceeding with an MFA reset.

Solution 1Recommended

Ask Another Global Administrator to Reset MFA

If you are not the only administrator in your organization, another Global Administrator can easily reset your multi-factor authentication settings.

When you reinstall the Microsoft Authenticator app without a cloud backup, the new installation is no longer linked to your existing multi-factor authentication tokens. A tenant administrator needs to clear the old session data.

Contact your IT admin

Reach out to your IT department or another Global Administrator within your company.

Request an MFA reset

Ask them to log into the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, locate your user profile, and select 'Require re-register MFA' or temporarily disable multi-factor authentication for your account.

Re-register the app

Once reset, sign into your Microsoft 365 account on a web browser. You will be prompted to set up two-step verification again. Scan the new QR code with your reinstalled Authenticator app.

Ask Another Global Administrator to Reset MFA

Backup Authentication: After successfully re-registering the app, add a secondary authentication method such as a phone number to prevent future lockouts.

Solution 2

Contact Microsoft 365 Business Support

If you are the only Global Administrator in your organization and are locked out, you must contact Microsoft Support to regain access.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why didn't my accounts restore automatically when I reinstalled Microsoft Authenticator?

If you did not enable cloud backup in the Authenticator app settings before uninstalling it, the reinstalled app acts as a completely new instance. It will not have the unique security tokens required to generate codes for your previously linked accounts.

Can I bypass the Authenticator app to sign in?

If you previously configured alternative verification methods (like an SMS text message, automated phone call, or a secondary email), you can click 'Sign in another way' on the login screen to bypass the Authenticator app and receive your code through another channel.

What is Security Defaults in Microsoft 365?

Security defaults are a set of pre-configured identity security settings managed by Microsoft that enforce multi-factor authentication for all users in an organization. If another admin temporarily disables this setting, it may allow you to sign in using just your password to reset your MFA setup.

Login & Account Issues