ONE DRIVE & PERSONA VAULT

Use the rotating Microsoft Authenticator code instead of waiting for automatic approval, because Personal Vault supports manual Authenticator codes and code generation does not require an Internet connection.^1^

Unlock with a manual code

1. Select Personal Vault in OneDrive.
2. On the verification screen, choose another verification method or the verification code option, if displayed.
3. Open Microsoft Authenticator and select the personal Microsoft account used for OneDrive.
4. Enter its current rotating code into the OneDrive verification prompt before the code changes.
5. Confirm that Personal Vault opens and its contents become accessible.

A code can work even when push approval is not arriving. Push approvals, by contrast, require the phone to have Internet access.^2^

Repair push approval

If no manual-code option appears, or approval still does not complete:

1. Open Authenticator manually and unlock it with the phone PIN or biometrics.
2. In Authenticator → Settings → Notification Settings, enable Show notifications.
3. In the phone’s system settings, allow Authenticator notifications and ensure Do Not Disturb/Quiet mode is not suppressing them.
4. Confirm the phone is online. Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data, and temporarily disconnect a VPN if one is active.
5. Set the phone’s date and time to automatic.
6. Update Authenticator through the phone’s app store. Microsoft does not support Authenticator versions more than 12 months old.
7. In Authenticator settings, turn off battery optimization for the app, then retry Personal Vault.^3^

If the account was moved to a new phone, the approval may still be going to the previous device. Check the old phone if available, then remove the old device from the personal Microsoft account’s two-step-verification settings. Adding Authenticator to a new phone does not automatically unregister the old one.^2^

If it still fails

• Try another verification method already attached to the account, such as SMS or email.
• Avoid repeatedly requesting codes; a high volume of attempts can trigger a temporary block. If that occurs, stop attempting for at least 24 hours before trying again.^4^
• Before contacting support, open Authenticator → top-level menu → Send feedback to submit diagnostic logs. Then contact Microsoft Support for the personal account and report that OneDrive Personal Vault authentication does not complete.^5^

Do not reset work-or-school MFA through Microsoft Entra for this case; OneDrive for home uses a personal Microsoft account and its separate security information.

References

1. Protect your OneDrive files in Personal Vault | Microsoft Support
2. Microsoft Authenticator FAQs | Microsoft Support
3. Troubleshoot problems with Microsoft Authenticator | Microsoft Support
4. Troubleshoot Microsoft verification code issues | Microsoft Support
5. Authentication did not complete | Microsoft Support