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How to Fix Microsoft Authenticator Codes and Notifications Not Working
Question details
The user is unable to authenticate because Microsoft Authenticator is not receiving push notifications for approval and manually entered verification codes are being rejected.
- Product
- Microsoft Authenticator
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to sign in to a Microsoft account, Office 365, or organizational tenant that requires multi-factor authentication (MFA).
- Observed behavior
- Approval notifications do not appear on the device, and any verification codes provided by the app are flagged as invalid or rejected by the sign-in portal.
Verify that your mobile device has a stable cellular or Wi-Fi internet connection and that its date and time settings are set to update automatically, as out-of-sync time settings are the most common cause of code rejection.
Request an MFA Reset from Your Administrator
Use this solution if you are locked out of a work or school account and standard troubleshooting steps do not resolve the issue, as tenant configuration often overrides local app settings.
Organizational accounts are managed by internal IT policies. If your Microsoft Authenticator stops working for a work or school account, your Azure Active Directory (Entra ID) authentication methods may be desynced or corrupted.
To fix this, an IT administrator with the appropriate privileges must reset your MFA registration.
Reach out to your organization's IT helpdesk or system administrator through an alternative communication channel.
Ask the administrator to navigate to the Azure portal, locate your user profile, and select 'Require re-register MFA' or 'Revoke MFA sessions'.
Open the Microsoft Authenticator app, tap on your work/school account, select the settings gear, and tap 'Remove account'.
Sign in to your work or school portal on a computer. You will be prompted to set up the Authenticator app again by scanning a new QR code.
Consult Microsoft Q&A Specialists
If you are using a personal account or are an administrator unable to resolve tenant-level authentication failures, posting on Microsoft Q&A connects you with platform specialists.
Avoid Login Lockouts with WPS Office
Stuck in endless multi-factor authentication loops when trying to access your documents? Switch to WPS Office. It provides a robust, locally accessible environment to manage your files without relying on complex, constantly syncing cloud authentication protocols.
- 1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer for your operating system.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the setup file and follow the brief on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
- 3. Edit your files offline: Open your Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint documents directly in WPS Office and start working without needing complex cloud verification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my Microsoft Authenticator codes constantly being rejected?
This commonly occurs if the internal clock on your authenticator device is out of sync with Microsoft's servers. To fix this on Android, open the Authenticator app, go to Settings, and select 'Time correction for codes' to sync the time.
Why am I not receiving push notifications for MFA approvals?
Push notifications can fail if your device is in Battery Saver mode, Do Not Disturb mode, or if Background App Refresh is disabled. Additionally, a weak or unstable internet connection can prevent notifications from arriving.
Can I recover my Microsoft Authenticator accounts if I lose my phone?
Yes, provided you previously turned on Cloud Backup in the Authenticator app settings. You can recover your accounts on a new device by downloading the app, selecting 'Begin recovery', and signing into your personal recovery Microsoft account.
What happens if I cannot contact an IT administrator to reset my MFA?
If you are locked out of a work or school account and cannot reach an administrator, you generally cannot bypass the MFA requirement yourself. You must wait until you can establish contact with your organization's IT support desk for a mandatory security reset.
