MFA & Verification Issues

How to Remove and Re-Register an Account in Microsoft Authenticator

Bushra Parveen Oct 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to unlink an old mobile device from Microsoft Authenticator and set up multifactor authentication on a new phone.

How to Remove and Re-Register an Account in Microsoft Authenticator

Product: Microsoft Authenticator
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Switching to a new mobile device while MFA verification codes are still being routed to the old, inaccessible Authenticator app.
Observed behavior: The user is unable to sign in or add the account to the new phone because the system requires authentication approval from the previous device.

Before you start

Check if you have an alternative sign-in method configured (such as SMS verification or a secondary email address) to bypass the Authenticator prompt before making changes.

Solution 1Recommended

Remove and Re-Register via Security Info (If You Have Access)

Use this method if you can still sign in to your Microsoft account using an alternative authentication method.

Deleting the Microsoft Authenticator app from your phone does not automatically remove the server-side MFA registration. You must manually remove the old device from your account's security settings.

Sign in to Security Info

Go to the Microsoft My Account portal (myaccount.microsoft.com) on a computer and sign in. Navigate to the 'Security info' section.

Delete the old Authenticator app

Find 'Microsoft Authenticator' in your list of sign-in methods and click 'Delete' next to the entry for your old device. Confirm the deletion.

Add a new sign-in method

Click 'Add sign-in method', choose 'Authenticator app' from the drop-down list, and click the 'Add' button.

Register the new phone

Open the Microsoft Authenticator app on your new phone, choose to add a work or school account, and scan the QR code displayed on your computer screen.

Remove and Re-Register via Security Info (If You Have Access)

Registration Complete: Your new phone is now successfully linked to your Microsoft account and will receive future MFA prompts.

Solution 2

Contact Your Administrator for an MFA Reset (If Locked Out)

Use this method if you are completely locked out of your account and cannot bypass the Authenticator prompt.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting the Microsoft Authenticator app remove MFA from my account?

No. Deleting the app from your phone only removes local data. The Microsoft server still expects MFA approval from that specific app installation until you or an IT administrator manually removes the device from your account's Security Info settings.

Can I recover my Authenticator accounts if I lost my old phone?

Yes, but only if you had previously enabled the Cloud Backup feature in the Microsoft Authenticator app settings on your old phone. If backup was enabled, you can select 'Recover accounts' when opening the app on your new phone.

Why am I not getting any MFA codes on my new phone?

If you simply downloaded the Authenticator app on your new phone without scanning a new QR code or using the cloud recovery feature, the app is not securely linked to your account yet. You must complete the re-registration process to receive codes.

Login & Account Issues