A Microsoft app for iOS and Android devices that enables authentication with two-factor verification, phone sign-in, and code generation
For a personal Microsoft account where one Authenticator account works and another does not, the supported checks are:
- Make sure Microsoft Authenticator is unlocked when approving or generating the sign-in request. If the app is locked, the entry box may not appear.
- Verify notifications are enabled for Microsoft Authenticator. In the app, go to Settings > Notification Settings and make sure Show notifications is turned on. Also check whether any authentication text messages arrived silently.
- Update Microsoft Authenticator to the latest version. Microsoft does not support app versions more than 12 months old.
- Check the device connection. Switch between Wi‑Fi and mobile data, make sure Airplane mode is off, and if a VPN is enabled, disconnect it and test again.
- Check device settings. Confirm the device is fully updated, Date & time are correct, and battery optimization is turned off for the app.
- If verification codes are being sent by email instead of app prompts, check the junk folder. Valid verification codes come from an
@accountprotection.microsoft.comaddress. - If the non-working account uses another Microsoft email as the backup email, open the sign-in flow in one private browsing window, then open a second private window to sign in to the backup email account and retrieve the code. This avoids one Microsoft account sign-in from signing out the other.
- If a verification method shows as unavailable, try another verification method connected to the account. Repeated requests can trigger a temporary block, so avoid repeated retries.
- If the account appears temporarily blocked, try another network and then wait. A day may be enough, but if it still fails after 24 hours, wait longer, up to 1 week, and avoid repeated attempts because that can reset the time lock.
If these steps still do not fix the personal account, send diagnostic logs from Authenticator: open the app, go to the app’s top-level menu, and select Send feedback. After that, use Contact Support for personal account help.