How to Fix Missing App Password Option in Microsoft 365 MFA
Question details
Users need to create an app password for their account, but the option is not available under their Security info settings.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Adding a sign-in method after multi-factor authentication (MFA) has been enabled and enforced.
- Observed behavior
- The App password option does not appear under Security info, preventing users from authenticating legacy applications.
Ensure you have Microsoft 365 Global Administrator or Authentication Administrator privileges to access and modify user MFA settings in the admin center.
Reset MFA Settings for the Affected User
Resetting the user's multifactor authentication configurations can refresh their security state and restore the missing app password option.
In some cases, newly enforced MFA policies may not sync correctly with existing user session data. Forcing a configuration reset and signing the user out of all current sessions can resolve the discrepancy.
Open the Microsoft 365 admin center and go to the multifactor authentication configuration page.
Select the affected user and click on 'Manage user settings'.
Check the boxes for 'Require selected users to provide contact methods again' and 'Delete all existing app passwords generated by the selected users', then save the changes.
Return to the Microsoft 365 admin center, locate the user's active devices or sessions, and select the option to sign the user out of all Microsoft 365 sessions.
Enforce MFA for the user again. Have the user log in, set up their authentication methods, and check if the 'App password' option now appears under Security info.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are App Passwords in Microsoft 365 used for?
App passwords are randomly generated passwords used to authenticate legacy applications, devices, or older email clients that do not support modern authentication when multi-factor authentication (MFA) is enforced.
Why is the App Password option disabled by default in some tenants?
Modern Microsoft 365 tenants often have 'Security defaults' enabled by Microsoft. Security defaults block legacy authentication protocols, effectively removing the ability and need to use app passwords in favor of modern authentication methods.
Can I enable App Passwords for specific users only?
Yes, administrators can configure MFA settings to allow app passwords on a per-user basis, provided the tenant-level settings (like Conditional Access policies or Security defaults) do not globally block legacy authentication.
