MFA & Verification Issues

How to Fix Microsoft Authenticator Notifications and Restore a Deleted Account

Maira Mehtab Sep 29, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to troubleshoot missing approval notifications in Microsoft Authenticator and restore an accidentally deleted organizational account.

Fix Microsoft Authenticator Notifications and Restore a Deleted Account

Product: Microsoft Authenticator
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: The user is missing MFA approval notifications or has accidentally removed their work or school account from the app.
Observed behavior: Approval notifications are not appearing, and the organization account is missing from the Authenticator app, preventing successful logins.

Before you start

Ensure your mobile device has an active internet connection, battery saver mode is disabled, and notifications for the Microsoft Authenticator app are explicitly allowed in your device's system settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Manually Check for Notifications and Use Verification Codes

Use this method if push notifications for approval requests are not automatically popping up on your device screen.

Sometimes network delays or aggressive battery optimization can prevent Authenticator push notifications from arriving. You can manually fetch pending requests or use the offline verification code.

Open Microsoft Authenticator

Launch the Microsoft Authenticator app on your mobile device.

Select the Account

Tap on the specific work, school, or personal account you are currently trying to log into.

Check for Notifications

Tap the 'Check for notifications' option in the account menu to manually fetch any pending login approvals.

Use Manual Code

If the notification still does not appear, look at the 6-digit one-time password (OTP) code displayed under your account and enter it manually on the login screen.

Manually Check for Notifications and Use Verification Codes

No Code Available?: If the 6-digit code is hidden, tap the account to reveal it. Codes refresh every 30 seconds.

Solution 2

Request an MFA Reset from Your IT Administrator

This is a mandatory step if you accidentally deleted a work or school account from the app, as you cannot restore it without administrative privileges.

Solution 3

Re-add the Account After an MFA Reset

Follow these steps to cleanly add your account back once your IT department has reset your MFA settings or if your User Principal Name (UPN) changed.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why am I not receiving Microsoft Authenticator push notifications?

This typically occurs if battery optimization settings restrict the app's background activity, your phone is in 'Do Not Disturb' mode, or the device currently lacks a stable internet connection. You can bypass this by opening the app and selecting 'Check for notifications'.

Can I recover a deleted work account in the Authenticator app by myself?

No. For enterprise security compliance, if a work or school account is deleted from your Authenticator app, you cannot restore it independently. You must contact your organization's IT administrator to reset your MFA registration in Microsoft Entra ID.

What should I do if my login email or User Principal Name (UPN) changes?

If your UPN changes, the existing Authenticator link will break. You must manually remove both the old and new account entries from the Microsoft Authenticator app and then register for MFA again from scratch using the new credentials.

Login & Account Issues