Fix Microsoft Authenticator Notifications Switching Between English and Chinese
Question details
The user needs to stop Microsoft Authenticator approval notifications from displaying in alternating languages such as English and Chinese.
- Product
- Microsoft Authenticator
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Approving sign-in requests using the Microsoft Authenticator app for a personal account.
- Observed behavior
- Approval notifications appear in the wrong language or alternate between two languages due to retained earlier language preferences in the account or device registration.
Ensure you have an alternative verification method, such as a recovery email or phone number, configured in your Microsoft account before you remove your Authenticator app registration.
Remove and Re-register Authenticator
Simply reinstalling the app does not clear old cached settings. You must remove the existing device registration from your security page to force a language reset.
This solution works by completely severing the connection between your Microsoft account and the old device registration, which often retains outdated regional or language metadata.
Navigate to the Microsoft account security page (account.microsoft.com/security) in your web browser and sign in to your personal account.
Go to 'Advanced security options' and locate your existing Microsoft Authenticator registration. Select the option to remove it or turn off verification for that specific device.
Click 'Add a new way to sign in or verify', choose 'Use an app', and follow the on-screen prompts to register your Authenticator app again, ensuring the setup language is English.
Verify Microsoft Account Language Preference
Ensure that your overarching Microsoft account profile is set exactly to your preferred display language.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does simply reinstalling the Authenticator app not fix the language issue?
Uninstalling the app only clears data from your local device. The device's registration footprint, including associated language preferences, remains tied to your Microsoft account in the cloud until you manually remove it from the security dashboard.
Where do I find the advanced security options for a personal Microsoft account?
You can access them by logging into account.microsoft.com, clicking on 'Security' from the main navigation menu, and then selecting 'Advanced security options' to manage your linked apps and sign-in methods.
Will removing my Authenticator registration lock me out of my account?
It could if Authenticator is your only configured two-step verification method. Always ensure you have a fallback verification method, such as a backup phone number or alternate email address, set up before removing the app.
