How to remove an old account from authenticator app

Question

How to remove an old account from authenticator app

Sheila Semavor 150

How do I remove an old account from my authenticator app?

scottj 61 Reputation points

2024-04-28T05:55:59.7766667+00:00

Oleksandr's instructions do not work if the account is no longer valid but still registered in the Microsoft Authenticator app. It requires the user to sign into the old invalid account which makes no sense because the account is no longer valid and you're stuck with the account unable to remove it. Microsoft dropped the ball with that one and they need to fix it.
Steve Crockett 40 Reputation points

2024-07-06T16:36:30.0266667+00:00

My account got added to someone else's personal authenticator. He can't sign into the account on the authenticator app as it asks for a code from the authenticator app itself. So, the steps listed are unhelpful. I also cannot log into the security settings as it asks for a code match or a 6-digit code again from the authenticator app. So how can I fix this? The person in question doesn't need to know anything on my account much less have access to changes on it.
James Segura 10 Reputation points

2024-07-15T17:25:39.21+00:00

I'm still having the issue after following the steps above,
My work account only shows in ms authenticator app in android.
It is not listed under Settings / Accounts
I can login into the work account, then it is no longer greyed out, I can select the three dots and remove, but this only brings it back to greyed out
I have tried the clear cache approach, did not work

What next?
Andrew Ford 280 Reputation points

2024-07-16T08:12:49.7533333+00:00

See my comment below on how to remove accounts from Microsoft's authenticator app.
Peter Grainger 0 Reputation points

2024-07-23T01:23:40.6866667+00:00

Brilliant! Solved my problem in 5 minutes. Awesome thanks.
Stephen T Hughes 0 Reputation points

2024-07-24T22:03:20.7133333+00:00

Do that but still sits as an unregistered app. Absolutely no way to remove the app. Assistance would be grateful. Android and Samsung user.
John Hsu 25 Reputation points

2024-09-18T01:41:32.31+00:00

I manage student accounts. For one student account, I tried more than ten times and was always prompted with ‘Account removed from app,’ but it still appears on the list.
SimonMatter-9330 15 Reputation points

2024-10-15T14:01:04.7766667+00:00

You are a hero. May your husband / wife be beautiful, your kids smart and not annoying and your life long and fullfilling.
A Rana 10 Reputation points

2024-10-25T15:34:49.82+00:00

I agree with SimonMatter-9330 and bless you with the same Andrew ford 😂
John Dang 0 Reputation points

2025-06-23T01:06:20.78+00:00

The same problem, looks like this app doesn't support to remove the unused accounts.
Mary Lauer 0 Reputation points

2025-08-23T15:08:28.8433333+00:00

I tried unregistering my old company from the device and it prompted me to enter in a new company. But it did not let me delete or remove the old one as a default.
John Dang 0 Reputation points

2025-08-25T12:29:37.4766667+00:00

I'm using Android 15 and the latest Microsoft Authenticator, and I can't follow any of the suggestions because the steps don't match.
Francis Micallef 0 Reputation points

2025-10-06T23:48:03.9+00:00

This worked perfectly.

Thank you.
Mary Lauer 0 Reputation points

2025-10-07T23:00:25.35+00:00

It works!
John Dang 0 Reputation points

2025-10-08T12:29:28.8233333+00:00

It seems Microsoft no longer supports this product. I could try uninstalling and reinstalling the app, but there's a risk I won't be able to access the current system if I run into a problem.
Radhakrishnan Meiyappan 0 Reputation points

2026-03-05T12:30:26.52+00:00

I have not logged into the account as the account was already added in another mobile MS authenticator app.

All I need to remove from my mobile which is not required in my mobile? Why the removal of account should is complicated where that account logged in was not successful?

5 answers

Your answer

scottj 61 Reputation points

2024-04-28T05:55:59.7766667+00:00

Oleksandr's instructions do not work if the account is no longer valid but still registered in the Microsoft Authenticator app. It requires the user to sign into the old invalid account which makes no sense because the account is no longer valid and you're stuck with the account unable to remove it. Microsoft dropped the ball with that one and they need to fix it.
Steve Crockett 40 Reputation points

2024-07-06T16:36:30.0266667+00:00

My account got added to someone else's personal authenticator. He can't sign into the account on the authenticator app as it asks for a code from the authenticator app itself. So, the steps listed are unhelpful. I also cannot log into the security settings as it asks for a code match or a 6-digit code again from the authenticator app. So how can I fix this? The person in question doesn't need to know anything on my account much less have access to changes on it.
James Segura 10 Reputation points

2024-07-15T17:25:39.21+00:00

I'm still having the issue after following the steps above,
My work account only shows in ms authenticator app in android.
It is not listed under Settings / Accounts
I can login into the work account, then it is no longer greyed out, I can select the three dots and remove, but this only brings it back to greyed out
I have tried the clear cache approach, did not work

What next?
Andrew Ford 280 Reputation points

2024-07-16T08:12:49.7533333+00:00

See my comment below on how to remove accounts from Microsoft's authenticator app.
Peter Grainger 0 Reputation points

2024-07-23T01:23:40.6866667+00:00

Brilliant! Solved my problem in 5 minutes. Awesome thanks.
Stephen T Hughes 0 Reputation points

2024-07-24T22:03:20.7133333+00:00

Do that but still sits as an unregistered app. Absolutely no way to remove the app. Assistance would be grateful. Android and Samsung user.
John Hsu 25 Reputation points

2024-09-18T01:41:32.31+00:00

I manage student accounts. For one student account, I tried more than ten times and was always prompted with ‘Account removed from app,’ but it still appears on the list.
SimonMatter-9330 15 Reputation points

2024-10-15T14:01:04.7766667+00:00

You are a hero. May your husband / wife be beautiful, your kids smart and not annoying and your life long and fullfilling.
A Rana 10 Reputation points

2024-10-25T15:34:49.82+00:00

I agree with SimonMatter-9330 and bless you with the same Andrew ford 😂
John Dang 0 Reputation points

2025-06-23T01:06:20.78+00:00

The same problem, looks like this app doesn't support to remove the unused accounts.
Mary Lauer 0 Reputation points

2025-08-23T15:08:28.8433333+00:00

I tried unregistering my old company from the device and it prompted me to enter in a new company. But it did not let me delete or remove the old one as a default.
John Dang 0 Reputation points

2025-08-25T12:29:37.4766667+00:00

I'm using Android 15 and the latest Microsoft Authenticator, and I can't follow any of the suggestions because the steps don't match.
Francis Micallef 0 Reputation points

2025-10-06T23:48:03.9+00:00

This worked perfectly.

Thank you.
Mary Lauer 0 Reputation points

2025-10-07T23:00:25.35+00:00

It works!
John Dang 0 Reputation points

2025-10-08T12:29:28.8233333+00:00

It seems Microsoft no longer supports this product. I could try uninstalling and reinstalling the app, but there's a risk I won't be able to access the current system if I run into a problem.
Radhakrishnan Meiyappan 0 Reputation points

2026-03-05T12:30:26.52+00:00

I have not logged into the account as the account was already added in another mobile MS authenticator app.

All I need to remove from my mobile which is not required in my mobile? Why the removal of account should is complicated where that account logged in was not successful?

Answer 1

Andrew Ford 280

For me to remove accounts was:

Android Settings > Accounts and Backup > Manage Accounts >Click on the account > Remove account

Hanna Cruz 0 Reputation points

2024-08-14T10:33:33.3266667+00:00

Thank you for this! It was driving me crazy!
Alexandre Vinson 0 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2024-11-25T11:52:42.2366667+00:00

Thanks, It worked :)
Darrel Fischer 0 Reputation points

2024-12-06T13:23:16.4266667+00:00

Mine was: Android Settings > Passwords & accounts > acct. to be removed > Remove account
Jeff 0 Reputation points

2024-12-10T14:40:39.15+00:00

Finally! An answer that worked.
Thank you for posting this.
chris lewis 0 Reputation points

2025-01-06T12:38:31.11+00:00

this worked for me! I think in latest Android it just says Accounts and Sync
Gaurav Kawadiwale 0 Reputation points

2025-04-09T13:07:59.73+00:00

Thank you very much!! This helped
Connor Roberts 0 Reputation points

2025-05-13T15:53:41.98+00:00

Yes this worked! Thank you so much!!
James B 0 Reputation points

2025-05-19T16:31:59.04+00:00

In the new version of android it's now called "Passwords, passkeys & accounts" go down to accounts, scroll to the email you want removed, click it, hit remove account. Done!
Oleksiy (Alex) Nazarov 0 Reputation points

2025-10-22T21:32:16.1333333+00:00

This worked wonderfully on Android 15 (OnePlus 12R). Otherwise, MS Authenticator had no option to delete old work account.
JAC 0 Reputation points

2026-04-04T12:50:32.25+00:00

Thank you, Andrew. This was driving me crazy. What a TERRIBLE app.

Answer 2

Dyonn 90

For me, it was:

Androd Settings > Paswords, passkeys and autofill >Click on the account > Remove account

김광은 1 Reputation point

2024-07-19T06:53:18.6966667+00:00

WOW!! GOOD!!
I salute your knowledge for solving my concerns for six months at once.
Jeff Houze 0 Reputation points

2024-07-26T19:40:54.6333333+00:00

Well that was non obvious, but worked.
Thanks.
Rod Sepsot 0 Reputation points

2024-08-01T07:20:52.52+00:00

Thank you. This solved the issue for me too!
Fabio Nowak 0 Reputation points

2024-09-17T22:01:33.0833333+00:00

There is no option like Settings > Paswords, passkeys and autofill on my Samsung with Android 14.
scott savage 0 Reputation points

2024-11-13T00:05:44.71+00:00

Yes, thanks. This did the trick on a Pixel 7!
Peter Vangsgaard 0 Reputation points

2024-11-20T18:31:27.28+00:00

that was also a solution that worked for me, the old account was not possible to remove in authenticator app but when i removed it in android settings it was also removed in the app. Thanks for this solution

Answer 3

Kharka Gurung 5

To remove an account from Microsoft Authenticator:

Open Microsoft Authenticator.
Tap the three dots (...) or settings icon.
Select "Accounts".
Tap and hold the account you want to remove.
Choose "Remove".

Confirm the removal when prompted.

Jānis Elmeris 5 Reputation points

2024-10-16T07:45:47.8966667+00:00

I did this. (Some time ago, there was no "Remove" button if I wasn't logged in that account, now there is. That's good.) I got a message that the account was removed, but the account entry only blinked somewhat. Like got removed and immediately reappeared back. I killed the app and re-opened it – yep, the account is still there...
Ray Honeycutt 0 Reputation points

2026-01-16T22:57:56.4533333+00:00

This doesn't work with the current version in January 2026 (6.8.40) on ios.
Instead of three dots, we have a hamburger menu. If you choose that, there is no choice then for Accounts

Still having this problem

Answer 4

DeepakDhiman-3532 470

I have found a workaround to remove an old accounts from your Microsoft Authenticator app on an Android.

If you have an android mobile, follow the instructions below:

Open your mobiles' Settings, then tap on Users & accounts or Accounts and backup (depends on the android version).
Scroll down and look for Microsoft old account(s) you want to remove or Work account and tap on it.
Once you found the required account, tap on it and select More or tap on 2 dots : (depends on the android version) in the upper right corner of your screen.
Select Remove account. You may need to repeat it twice or thrice.
Once account has removed, close the Microsoft Authenticator app if already opened.
Now tap and hold on Microsoft Authenticator app, and select App info.
Select Storage usage > Under Cache, tap on Clear cache.
Open Microsoft Authenticator app, and old account(s) should not appear now.

Roman Strobel 10 Reputation points

2024-04-28T21:14:35.3+00:00

Thank you Deepak, your solution works perfectly 🙏
DeepakDhiman-3532 470 Reputation points

2024-04-29T18:15:57.2866667+00:00

Glad to help! Please accept this answer to help others.
Dieter Schlegel 10 Reputation points

2024-05-07T07:13:50.99+00:00

it worked, thank you
Kovili, Rohit 10 Reputation points

2024-05-08T06:18:06.98+00:00

That was perfect. Thank you !
Quinton Johnson 5 Reputation points

2024-05-17T13:36:03.0466667+00:00

Thank you!!!! I was searching for some time on how to do this, and now those old accounts are GONE!... again thank you!
Runpu YAN 5 Reputation points

2024-05-22T02:07:02.23+00:00

Thank you Deepak, your solution works
N A I M A 0 Reputation points

2024-05-27T13:18:57.9966667+00:00

Doesn't work.
scottj 61 Reputation points

2024-05-27T19:04:38.24+00:00

Excellent. That worked. Thank you.
Kay Wallace 5 Reputation points

2024-06-18T19:20:22.2766667+00:00

Thank you Mr. Dhiman! This worked perfectly. Left a job with logins still on the phone/in Authenticator which no longer work, so completely understand Scott's problem below. Well written steps, Deepak! Especially the need for multiple "remove account" taps! (I did.) Have bookmarked/saved the steps for exit interviewers.
Chris Nixon 5 Reputation points

2024-07-02T17:56:50.7366667+00:00

Worked brilliantly, thank you.
Kathryn L 0 Reputation points

2024-07-03T23:05:50.71+00:00

With the latest Android. Accounts and backup > manage accounts, then scroll through your list of accounts, removing only the ones you need to remove (eg. If you've left your job that might be Outlook. I had an employee ID as one account and an employee email for something else, so had to remove both.)
John Hsu 25 Reputation points

2024-07-05T17:55:40.81+00:00

I manage students' accounts. one account had problem with MFA. I disabled the MFA, but still ask MFA with Authenticator. So, I tried that account on my two phones. The authenticator app always said the “QR code already used” and the account on the Authenticator shows "Sign in". I clicked the account, it asked me "To set up Microsoft Authenticator, you will need to go to aka.ms/mfasetup on a web browser". It is in the loop and unable to make MFA works for this strange account.
Anonymous

2024-07-16T13:01:06.37+00:00

OMG, thank you so much!
John Hsu 25 Reputation points

2024-07-23T03:10:41.59+00:00

the account is in "Sign in" status. Didn't has 3 dots. I am managing students accounts. Only one account could not work with Athenticator , even I disable the MFA /enforce/reset password/change phones.
Ronald Sweet 0 Reputation points

2024-09-17T13:31:20.9333333+00:00

Worked perfectly for me, I was struggling to find a way to delete / remove the old work account from the MS Authenticator app and this was the solution, thank you!
John Hsu 25 Reputation points

2024-10-16T04:21:31.92+00:00

I managed students account. I keep tried but one student account could not be removed from my phone.
Ravinder Verma 0 Reputation points

2024-12-12T12:16:20.0233333+00:00

This helped!
Jerry Donnelly 0 Reputation points

2025-01-10T01:34:13.1366667+00:00

That worked perfectly! Thank you!
Jon.Ed 0 Reputation points

2025-01-13T16:18:32.17+00:00

Thank you! This issue has been bugging me for nearly 5 months. Great instructions, process complete in 2 minutes! 🙂
Peter John Saliente 31 Reputation points

2025-02-04T13:37:30.5733333+00:00

for my poco x3 it was "Settings" > "Accounts & Sync" >"Work Account"
Samambaia Junior 0 Reputation points

2025-02-28T20:36:14.53+00:00

Perfect! Thank you so much.
Mazvita Ndawana 0 Reputation points

2025-07-29T07:19:21.91+00:00

Thank you so much, this worked! But we shouldn't need to do it this way, Microsoft needs to fix the authenticator app
CapraNubiana 0 Reputation points

2025-09-16T10:03:13.6966667+00:00

Quick and easy solution. Thanks Deepak!
Jeremy 0 Reputation points

2025-10-08T13:35:44.5233333+00:00

Wonderful idea. This resolved the issue.
Helen Helen 0 Reputation points

2025-11-08T03:10:50.3466667+00:00

Thanks for this, it was very helpful
Spanburg, Craig S 0 Reputation points

2025-12-10T17:01:00.14+00:00

Thank you Deepak! Your solution still works!
Tim H 0 Reputation points

2025-12-14T22:30:15.05+00:00

Worked for me too, thanks

Answer 5

Oleksandr Bakun 131

Hello, please use following steps to remove account:

Open the app: Find the Microsoft Authenticator app on your phone. It has a blue icon with a white checkmark inside a circle. Tap on it to open.
Look for your accounts: When the app opens, you'll see a list of your accounts that you've added for extra security.
Pick the account you want to remove: Scroll through the list until you find the account you want to remove. Tap on it to select it.
Find the settings: After tapping on the account, you'll see some options related to it. Look for "Gear" icon on top right corner.
Remove the account: Once you're in the settings, you should see an option to remove the account. Tap on it.
Confirm removal: The app might ask you to confirm that you want to remove the account. Just follow the instructions on the screen to confirm.
Check it's gone: After confirming, go back to the account list. Make sure the account you removed isn't there anymore.

balintn 26 Reputation points

2024-07-17T10:39:19.39+00:00

It only works if you can actually sign in. If you can't, there's no way to get to step 4.
Jānis Elmeris 5 Reputation points

2024-07-23T08:46:59.83+00:00

I have the problem balintn describes. On step 3, if I tap the old account I want to remove, it automatically does some multiple redirection stuff and tells me to sign in and offers some help with signing in. But there is no option to remove the account.
John Hsu 25 Reputation points

2025-01-10T03:34:12.5+00:00

In my case, there is no option for "Remove the account". It showed only : "Accont name: Live". I tried more than 50 times for this account and never got removed.

I managed sutdents' account on my phone and only had one account as I mentioned could not removed.
Anonymous

2025-01-10T18:21:47.7766667+00:00

I'm in the same boat as John Hsu. I have no "Remove" button for the account I want to remove.

However, I was able to create a new entry for the same account since it is still active. I just now have 2 listings for the account. Aggravating, but at least I've made it work for me.
Anonymous

2025-01-14T20:34:38.2766667+00:00

This worked for me on my Google Pixel 6 Pro:

Open "Settings", then "Passwords, passkeys & accounts", click on the account to be removed and then click on "Remove account".

When I went back into Authenticator, the account was gone!
Jim Webb 0 Reputation points

2026-09-25T13:13:56.0066667+00:00

For those still having their old accounts still listed, I found the missing step. After step 6 above, a login prompt will likely pop up for that account. Don't close the screen or use your phone's back button. Instead, click the <- to the left of your account email. Your authenticator app will refresh with that account having been removed.

It's that click of that little <- button that makes it work.