How to fix Microsoft Authenticator

brooklynn thornton 20 Reputation points
2026-09-30T19:45:54.59+00:00

Every time I try to login on my school account it tells me to verify on the app, but I’m not able to login and verify on the authenticator app because it wants me to sign in first but I can’t because it tells me to verify on the app.

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Microsoft 365 and Office | Subscription, account, billing | For education | Other
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  1. AI answer

    2026-09-30T19:46:21.16+00:00

    This is an MFA registration loop on a work or school account. The Authenticator entry shown as “Sign in to add your account” is not fully set up, so it cannot provide the code or approval needed to complete sign-in.

    Try these steps in order:

    1. On the sign-in screen, select Sign in another way.
      • If another method was already registered, use text message, phone call, or another available option.
      • If one of those works, sign in and then update the account’s security methods.
    2. In Microsoft Authenticator, check whether the school account is already usable.
      • Open the app and confirm it opens normally and the account is listed.
      • If the app is locked, unlock it first.
      • Make sure notifications are enabled for Authenticator.
    3. Update and refresh the app/device.
      • Update Microsoft Authenticator to the latest version.
      • Restart the phone.
      • If using mobile data, try Wi‑Fi, and vice versa.
      • Make sure Date & time on the phone are correct.
    4. If the account in Authenticator still says Sign in to add your account, the registration is incomplete.
      • At that point, this usually cannot be fixed from the phone alone.
      • The school IT help desk or Microsoft 365 admin needs to clear or reset the MFA registration so the account can be set up again.
    5. When contacting the school IT help desk, ask them to reset MFA / require re-registration of multifactor authentication for the school account.
      • After they clear the old registration, the next sign-in should prompt a fresh Authenticator setup.
      • Important: resetting MFA removes existing verification methods, so a new method must be set up at the next sign-in.

    If repeated sign-in attempts were made, Microsoft Entra MFA can temporarily block more attempts. In that case, wait and try again later, or use a different registered MFA method if available.

    If the app is still failing after the reset process starts, open Authenticator and use Send feedback from the app menu so logs can be captured for diagnostics.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. Ruby Nguyen 3,045 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-09-30T20:12:02.0366667+00:00

    Good day Brooklynn and I’m sorry to hear about the difficulties you’re experiencing.  

    Please note that forum users do not have access to user account settings and therefore cannot assist with login issues, password resets, multi-factor authentication (MFA) issues or changes to access rights. 

    This issue usually occurs when your school account is already configured to use Microsoft Authenticator for multifactor authentication, but the app isn't currently registered correctly on your phone. For example, this can happen after changing phones, reinstalling the app, removing the account from Authenticator, or not completing the original setup.  

    Since you are using a school email address, the MFA settings are managed by your school's IT department. For assistance with resetting or updating your MFA, you will need to contact them directly to resolve this and explain your situation. You can say: "I am stuck in a login loop between Teams and the Microsoft Authenticator app. I cannot get the code to sign in."    

    Note: In case you do not know who is your IT admin, kindly refer to this article: How do I find my Microsoft 365 admin? - Microsoft Support  

    Specifically, ask them to “reset my MFA settings” or “allow me to re-register for MFA” on your school account. This is a standard request and your school’s IT team should be able to assist you with it.  You can also share the steps in this Microsoft article for them so they can help reset your MFA settings for you Manage user authentication methods for Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication.  

    Once your school's IT admin has reset your MFA, the next time you log in to your account, you will be guided through the process of setting up the Microsoft Authenticator app again from the beginning by scanning a QR code. This will break the loop and allow you to access your account normally.   

    Additional information is available in the following resource: How to add your accounts to Microsoft Authenticator | Microsoft Support 

    I wish I could help more directly, but as a fellow user in this community, providing these steps is the best support I can offer. I hope your admin can help you regain access to your school account soon. 

    If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time. 

    Thank you for your patience and understanding. 

    If you have any extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".    

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