Lost my recovery code

Question

Lost my recovery code

PAWANI SHARMA 0

I authneticated my college website from Microsoft without signing in just scanned and qr by mistake i forgot to note the recovery code and app got uninstalled when my phone got formatted so now i can't find the authenticatoion code anywhere and also its not recovered how can i get back

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2 answers

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Answer 1

Good day PAWANI SHARMA

In this situation, I recommend reaching out to your college IT administrator to reset your MFA settings so that you can set up the Microsoft Authenticator app again. In most cases, they also serve as the Global Administrator and have permission to manage user accounts within the school's tenant.

You can send them an email using the guidance below, or simply share this thread with them so they can better understand the issue and assist you more efficiently.

Manage user authentication methods for Microsoft Entra multi-factor authentication

Sign in to Microsoft Entra - Microsoft Entra admin center
User -> all users. Select the user you want to act on, and then select "Authentication methods". then select "Require multi-factor authentication re-registration".

User's image

Require re-enrollment MFA: This disables all previous authentication methods. You'll then be prompted to set up a new MFA authentication method the next time you try to sign in, so you can add a new authenticator app.

*Note:

Please note that in this case, you only need to find the global admin of your organization’s tenant. They are the ones who can help you regain access to your account.
The global admin is usually someone in your school’s IT team or a system administrator. They manage Microsoft 365 settings, licenses, and security.

I hope I’ve been able to help in some way. I look forward to your update.

Kind regards,

Answer 2

Contact your college IT help desk and ask them to reset your MFA registration, because Authenticator credentials for work or school accounts cannot be recovered from a phone backup; the account must be registered again. ^1^

What to ask the college IT team

Send them this request:

My phone was formatted and Microsoft Authenticator was removed. I no longer have the recovery code or another sign-in method. Please require MFA re-registration for my college account so I can register Authenticator again.

Only the college’s administrator can change authentication settings for a school-managed account. ^2^

The administrator should:

Sign in to the Microsoft Entra admin center with at least the Authentication Administrator role.
Go to Entra ID → Users.
Select your account, then Authentication methods.
Select Require re-register MFA.
Have you sign in again and follow the prompts to scan a new QR code and register Authenticator. ^3^

Important: Requiring re-registration removes the existing Authenticator registration and other registered MFA methods, including phone numbers and software OATH tokens. The administrator should therefore provide or enable a usable sign-in method so you can complete the new registration.

On the college sign-in page, select Sign in another way. If SMS, phone call, or another method previously registered by you is offered, use it and then update your security information. If no alternative appears or it also requires the deleted app, proceed through college IT rather than repeatedly reinstalling Authenticator.

Restoring an Authenticator backup would restore only the college account’s name, not its work-or-school credential, so it would not eliminate the need to sign in and register that account again. ^1^

References

Lost my recovery code

2 answers

What to ask the college IT team

If another sign-in option appears

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