Cant add account to outlook mobile app

Question

Cant add account to outlook mobile app

Highseas Migration 0

It asks me to verify a code on the mobile app which i cant do and my authenticator app is not showing a verification code. What should I do?

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2 answers

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Answer 1

Teddie Dang 2,245 Independent Advisor

Hi @Highseas Migration

To better understand the situation, could you clarify:

Have you recently changed to a new phone or transferred Microsoft Authenticator to a new device?
When you open Microsoft Authenticator, do you see your work account listed in the app?
Are you missing only the approval notification, or do you also not see any 6-digit verification code for the account?
Can you access any other Microsoft 365 services with this account, such as Outlook on the web or Microsoft Teams?

If you no longer have access to the authentication method registered for the account, you will need to contact your organization's IT administrator and ask them to reset your MFA methods or re-register Microsoft Authenticator for your account. Only the administrator for the organization that owns the account can make those changes. You can refer them to this guide Manage authentication methods for Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication - Microsoft Entra ID |…

If you’re unsure who your IT administrator is, see How do I find my Microsoft 365 admin? - Microsoft Support

After the MFA methods are reset, you should be able to sign in and register your new verification methods by visiting My Sign-Ins | Security Info | Microsoft.com page.

Highseas Migration 0 Reputation points

2026-11-14T02:55:02.66+00:00

Hi i am the sole admin. Everytime i try to log in i only get two options. Verify a code shown in the mobile app and authenticator code which is not showing.
Teddie Dang 2,245 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-11-14T03:31:32.5933333+00:00
Hi @Highseas Migration

Regarding Microsoft Authenticator, the screenshot shows that the account is present in the app, but it does not confirm whether a verification method was successfully registered.

It appears that the account may currently be configured only as a Connected account for device sign-in (SSO), rather than having a fully configured MFA method. Since Microsoft now requires MFA for Microsoft 365 work and school accounts, is it possible that MFA was never completed for this account and you are now locked out?

If MFA is successfully configured, Microsoft Authenticator will typically show an authentication method for the account, such as number matching approval prompts or a 6-digit one-time verification code, rather than only the Connected account screen.

The error AADSTS50020 appears to be separate from the MFA issue. The message indicates that your account cannot be found in the highseasmigration.com Microsoft Entra ID tenant when Outlook Mobile attempts to sign in.

Since you mentioned that you are the sole administrator, could you please clarify:

Are you able to sign in successfully to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center using this account?

Have there been any recent changes to your domain, tenant, or user accounts?

Answer 2

If the work account is already present in Outlook, retrieve its one-time code from Outlook → Settings → Accounts → account name → Sign-in requests; otherwise, use another registered method or ask your organization’s administrator to reset your MFA registration.

Check Outlook for the code

This applies only if the account was previously added successfully and your organization allows Outlook to authenticate sign-ins:

Open Outlook for iOS.
Tap the Home icon at the upper left, then the Settings gear.
Under General, tap Accounts and select the affected account.
Tap Sign-in requests.
Copy the displayed code and paste it into the verification screen. Codes refresh every 30 seconds. ^1^

If Outlook says that Authenticator must be used, or the account is not yet available in Outlook, this route cannot complete the initial setup.

Try an existing verification method

On the Microsoft sign-in screen, select I can’t use my Microsoft Authenticator app right now, Sign in another way, or a similar option. Use a previously registered SMS, phone, email, security key, or another device.

If an old phone still has the correctly registered Authenticator account, approve the request or obtain the code there. A new Authenticator installation showing an email address does not necessarily mean that the new device has a working MFA registration. ^2^

If another method lets you sign in, open My Sign-Ins → Security info, add Microsoft Authenticator as a new sign-in method, and complete the QR-code setup before removing the old method. Users can manage their own methods from the Security info page. ^3^

If no verification method works

Because this is a business account, contact your company’s IT help desk or Microsoft 365 administrator and request MFA re-registration.

An Authentication Administrator can:

Sign in to the Microsoft Entra admin center.
Go to Entra ID → Users.
Select your user account.
Select Authentication methods.
Choose Require re-register MFA.

This removes the registered Authenticator, phone, and software OATH methods and prompts you to register a new MFA method at the next sign-in. It is a reset, so any existing methods covered by that action will need to be configured again. ^3^

After the reset, start the Outlook sign-in again and register Authenticator when prompted. Outlook for iOS can require Authenticator, device registration, or additional controls depending on your organization’s policies. ^4^

If you are the organization’s only administrator and are completely locked out, contact Microsoft business support for tenant access recovery rather than repeatedly reinstalling Authenticator. ^5^

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