MFA & Verification Issues

How to Fix Microsoft Authenticator App Showing a Red Number One Badge

Camila Milosovich Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is experiencing an issue where a red notification badge with the number '1' is permanently stuck on the Microsoft Authenticator app icon, despite there being no visible pending requests or alerts inside the app.

How to Fix Microsoft Authenticator App Showing a Red Number One

Product: Microsoft Authenticator
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Monitoring account security and pending login approvals via the Microsoft Authenticator application.
Observed behavior: A red badge with the number one appears on the app icon, but opening the application reveals no pending authentication requests, alerts, or required actions.

Before you start

Before proceeding with any troubleshooting steps, especially reinstalling the app, ensure you have enabled Cloud Backup in your Authenticator settings to prevent permanent loss of your linked accounts.

Solution 1Recommended

Check Accounts Manually and Restart Your Device

Manually reviewing each connected account can uncover hidden alerts, and restarting the device clears temporary interface glitches causing the false notification.

Sometimes the app fails to push a notification to the main screen but keeps the badge active. Checking manually forces the app to refresh its alert status.

Open Microsoft Authenticator

Launch the Microsoft Authenticator app from your home screen.

Inspect individual accounts

Tap into every single account listed in your app to check for any pending approval requests, security notifications, or required actions that are not displaying on the main dashboard.

Force close the app

Swipe up from the bottom of your screen (or press the recent apps button) and swipe the Authenticator app away to force close it.

Restart your device

Power off your smartphone completely, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on. Check if the red badge has disappeared from the icon.

Temporary Bugs: In some cases, especially if you are on a beta version, this false badge is a known glitch that will eventually disappear on its own.

Solution 2

Update the Authenticator Application

Installing the newest version of the app can patch known bugs responsible for the persistent notification badge.

Solution 3

Reinstall the Authenticator App

If all else fails, deleting and reinstalling the app resets its local cache and clears the badge, but this requires an active cloud backup.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is there a red '1' on my Microsoft Authenticator app?

A red '1' badge typically indicates a pending login approval, a security alert, or a required action for one of your linked accounts. If you don't see any alerts upon opening the app, it is likely a temporary display bug or caching error.

Will I lose my accounts if I delete the Microsoft Authenticator app to fix the badge?

Yes, if you delete the application without setting up a Cloud Backup first, you will lose your account tokens and may be locked out of your secured accounts. Always enable Cloud Backup in the app's settings before uninstalling.

Can using a beta version of Authenticator cause notification badge glitches?

Yes, several users have reported that beta versions of the app can contain bugs causing phantom notifications. These usually resolve themselves automatically or are fixed when updating to the next stable release.

Login & Account Issues