How to fix logging into Microsoft Authenticator whilst it asks for authentication to log into the Authenticator

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How to fix logging into Microsoft Authenticator whilst it asks for authentication to log into the Authenticator

Mattacola, Francisco 20

I’m trying to login to my microsoft account on outlook on my iPhone, however it requires me to authenticate using the Microsoft authentication app , however to do that I need to login to the Authenticator app which I can’t do because i then need to authenticate that login on the app, but I can’t do that because I can’t access it. I’ve tried downloading and using a different device to authenticate but the same thing happens , I need to authenticate my login to the Authenticator app. This is for my university account and so it is urgent it’s fixed.

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Good day Mattacola,

Just to gently clarify before going any further, this forum is separate from Microsoft Support. I don’t have the ability to access or investigate individual accounts or escalate the issue directly Microsoft Support because this is a user‑to‑user support forum.

This happens because Microsoft Authenticator is currently the only verification method registered for your university account, but it is no longer available to approve sign in requests. Installing the app on another device doesn't automatically transfer or register the account, so Microsoft still sends the approval request to the previously registered Authenticator app, which you cannot access.

Because this is a school account, the MFA settings are managed by your school's IT administrator. The fastest way forward is to contact your school's IT support team and explain: "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

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 IT administrator has reset your authentication settings, sign in again and follow the prompts to register your phone number or Microsoft Authenticator on your current device. After that, consider adding a backup verification method, such as an alternate email address, so you still have a way to access your account if you lose access to your primary verification method in the future. 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.