MFA & Verification Issues

Fix Microsoft Authenticator Number Prompt Missing on New Phone

Muhammad Talha Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to see the Microsoft Authenticator number prompt on their new phone when attempting to sign into a work account via Dayforce.

How to Fix Microsoft Authenticator Number Prompt Missing on a New Phone

Product: Microsoft Authenticator
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Signing into a work account (Dayforce) after switching to a new mobile device.
Observed behavior: The number matching prompt fails to appear in the Authenticator app on the new phone, preventing successful sign-in.

Before you start

Verify that your new phone is connected to a stable internet network, and check if you still have your old mobile device, as having it readily available provides the fastest recovery path.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Your Old Phone to Authenticate and Transfer the Account

If you still have access to your old device, you can use it to approve the current sign-in and properly set up your new phone.

Microsoft Authenticator does not automatically transfer active work account tokens to a new device for security reasons. The registration remains tied to the old hardware until explicitly migrated or reset.

Trigger the sign-in prompt

Attempt to sign into your work account (Dayforce) on your computer to generate the number prompt.

Approve on the old phone

Open the Microsoft Authenticator app on your old phone, match the number displayed on your computer screen, and tap 'Approve'.

Register the new device

Once logged in, navigate to your organization's security info settings page (mysignins.microsoft.com/security-info) and click 'Add sign-in method' to officially register the Authenticator app on your new phone.

Use Your Old Phone to Authenticate and Transfer the Account

Migration Tip: After successfully registering the new device, remember to delete the old device from your security info page to prevent future prompt confusion.

Solution 2

Request an MFA Reset from Your IT Administrator

Use this solution if you no longer have access to your old phone and cannot receive any approval prompts.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Experience

Dealing with account lockouts and MFA issues can stall your work. While you wait for your Authenticator app to be reset, consider trying WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office that lets you edit your documents locally without restrictive login barriers.

1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button.
2. Install the software: Run the downloaded executable file and follow the simple setup wizard.
3. Open your files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing DOCX, XLSX, or PPTX files to resume your work instantly.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint file formatsNo mandatory cloud logins required to edit and save local documentsLightweight installation that runs smoothly on almost any computerCompletely free to download and use for essential office tasks

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why didn't my Microsoft Authenticator accounts transfer automatically to my new phone?

For security reasons, authentication tokens are bound to the hardware of your device. Work and school accounts typically require you to manually re-scan a QR code or approve the transfer from the old device to authorize the new hardware.

Can I recover my Microsoft Authenticator accounts using a cloud backup?

Yes, if you previously enabled Cloud Backup on your old phone using a personal Microsoft account. However, even with a restored backup, many work and school accounts will still require you to perform a secondary verification step to activate the account on the new device.

How do I prevent being locked out the next time I get a new phone?

Before wiping or getting rid of your old phone, log into your organization's security info page and add a secondary authentication method, such as a phone number for SMS/calls, or register the new phone's Authenticator app while you still have access to the old one.

Login & Account Issues