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How to Recover Microsoft Account Access After Deleting Authenticator App
Question details
The user needs to regain access to their Microsoft account because the Microsoft Authenticator app was deleted and sign-in requests can no longer be approved.
- Product
- Microsoft Account / Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to sign in to a Microsoft service but being blocked by a two-factor authentication prompt sent to a deleted or inaccessible Authenticator app.
- Observed behavior
- The sign-in process stalls at the Authenticator approval step, preventing the user from accessing their emails, files, or account settings.
Before proceeding, determine whether the locked account is a personal Microsoft account (like Outlook.com or Xbox) or a work/school account (Microsoft 365 business or education), as the recovery steps differ significantly.
Recover Access for Work or School Accounts
Use this method if your account is managed by your organization's IT department or school administration.
For enterprise and education environments, security policies restrict users from bypassing multi-factor authentication (MFA) on their own. The most efficient way to regain access is by having your IT administrator reset your authentication methods.
Reach out to your organization's IT Helpdesk or system administrator and inform them that you deleted your Microsoft Authenticator app.
Ask the administrator to 'Require re-register MFA' for your user profile within the Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) admin center.
Once the administrator confirms the reset, go to portal.office.com and enter your email and password.
You will be prompted with 'More information required'. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up the Microsoft Authenticator app on your new or current device.
Recover Access for Personal Microsoft Accounts
Use this method to recover personal accounts by utilizing alternate security info or the official account recovery form.
Try WPS Office While You Recover Your Account
Locked out of your Microsoft 365 account due to an Authenticator issue? You don't have to stop working. WPS Office is a powerful, free alternative that lets you view, edit, and create documents offline without needing a mandatory cloud account login.
- 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 quick on-screen instructions to install the suite.
- 3. Open your files: Right-click your existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files and select 'Open with WPS Office' to continue your work uninterrupted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I backup and restore my Microsoft Authenticator accounts?
Yes. If you previously enabled Cloud Backup in the Microsoft Authenticator app settings on your old device, you can use the 'Begin recovery' option when installing the app on a new device to restore your account credentials.
What happens if I don't have an alternate verification method for my personal account?
If you lack an alternate email or phone number, you must submit the Microsoft Account Recovery form at account.live.com/acsr. Note that if you had Two-Step Verification strictly enforced, the recovery form might not be accepted by Microsoft's automated system.
How long does it take for an IT admin to reset my MFA settings?
The technical process of resetting your authentication method in the Microsoft Entra admin center takes only a few minutes. However, the overall time depends on how quickly your internal IT support team responds to your ticket.
Will I lose my data if I use the Microsoft account recovery form?
No. Successfully recovering your account via the official Microsoft form simply resets your authentication credentials. It restores full access to your existing emails, files, and subscriptions without any data loss.
