A Microsoft app for iOS and Android devices that enables authentication with two-factor verification, phone sign-in, and code generation
At the verification prompt, select Sign in another way or Other verification options and use any previously registered method; if no usable method appears, two-step verification cannot be bypassed and the recovery path depends on whether this is a work/school or personal Microsoft account.^1^
Work or school account
This is normally an address provided by an employer, school, or organization.
- If you are not an administrator: contact your organization’s IT help desk and ask an administrator to reset your MFA registration so that you can register Authenticator again. If Sign in another way is missing, Microsoft’s guidance is to contact the administrator.^1^
- If you are the tenant’s only Global Administrator: this is a tenant lockout. Contact Microsoft business support, explain that:
- you are the only Global Administrator;
- no alternative authentication method is available;
- you cannot enter the admin portal to create a support request;
- you need a case opened for tenant access recovery/MFA reset.
Personal Microsoft account
This includes accounts such as Outlook.com, Hotmail.com, Xbox, or a personal Microsoft login.
If two-step verification is enabled and none of the registered verification methods is accessible, Microsoft Support cannot disable it, change the account details, or send a reset link. The standard account recovery form cannot override two-step verification.^6^
If two-step verification was not enabled by you and the displayed verification details are unrecognized, use the Sign-in Helper linked from that Microsoft recovery article instead.^6^
After access is restored to a work tenant, create at least two emergency administrative accounts with independent authentication methods to prevent another complete lockout.^7^
References
- Use a screen reader to set up and troubleshoot multifactor authentication | Microsoft Support
- [Work account](https://support.microsoft.com/support/#microsoft-365-volume-licensing-support)
- Preventing tenant lockouts
- Locked out of admin.microsoft.com – only Global Admin lost Microsoft Authenticator bypass - Microsoft Q&A
- Can't sign in to Microsoft work account, I'm the only admin, I never setup Authenticator - Microsoft Q&A
- Help with the Microsoft account recovery form | Microsoft Support
- Manage emergency access accounts in Microsoft Entra ID