Can't approve sign-in in Microsoft Authenticator with school account

For a school account, this loop usually means the current Microsoft Authenticator registration is no longer usable on the phone, or the approval is being sent to a different device. The supported path is:

1. Check whether the approval is going to an older phone.
   • If Microsoft Authenticator was previously active on another device, the push notification may still be sent there.
   • If the old device is available, open Authenticator on that device and approve the sign-in.
2. If the current phone is the only device, verify the app can receive and complete prompts.
   • Open Microsoft Authenticator and make sure the app is unlocked.
   • In phone settings, make sure push notifications are enabled for Authenticator.
   • Confirm the phone has internet access. If needed, switch between Wi‑Fi and mobile data.
   • Make sure the phone date and time are correct.
   • Update Microsoft Authenticator to the latest version from the app store.
   • If this is a work/school-managed device, also update Company Portal and make sure the device is compliant.
3. If Authenticator opens but sign-in still fails with the loop, the account likely needs to be re-registered for MFA.
   • For a school account, MFA methods are managed by the organization.
   • The next step is to contact the school IT administrator or helpdesk and ask them to reset MFA / authentication methods or require MFA re-registration for the account.
   • After that reset, the next sign-in should prompt setup of Microsoft Authenticator again from the beginning.
4. Before contacting IT, send logs from the app.
   • In Authenticator, open the app’s top-level menu or settings and select Send feedback.
   • Then provide the school IT admin/helpdesk with the problem details and the error identifiers already captured.

If another verification method is offered during sign-in, select Other ways to sign in and use that method temporarily. If the sign-in page shows Approve a request on my Microsoft Authenticator app, that confirms the account is currently expecting Authenticator approval.

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