Unable to Sign In to Azure Portal – Authenticator Requests Not Working and 6-Digit vs 8-Digit Code Mismatch

Dineshkumar T B 0 Reputation points
2026-10-25T09:16:46.3633333+00:00

Issue: Unable to access https://portal.azure.com due to a Microsoft Authenticator verification issue.

Hello Microsoft Community,

I'm unable to sign in to the Azure portal because the sign-in process repeatedly asks me to approve a request in the Microsoft Authenticator app or enter a verification code.

Background

  • I originally created my Azure account using my personal Outlook.com email address.

Later, I associated my personal email with Visual Studio Dev Essentials to access the Azure benefits available through the subscription.

I can successfully sign in to my personal Microsoft account at https://account.microsoft.com and access my security settings.

I can also sign in to https://my.visualstudio.com and see the Visual Studio Dev Essentials subscription.

When I try to access Azure at https://portal.azure.com, the authentication flow redirects to login.microsoftonline.com.

Problem details

The Azure portal repeatedly asks me to approve a sign-in request using Microsoft Authenticator.

I do not receive any approval notifications on my current phone, even after opening the Authenticator app and checking manually.

The portal also asks me to enter a verification code. However, Azure appears to expect a 6-digit code, whereas the Authenticator app displays an 8-digit code for my personal account.

I have configured alternative verification methods, including SMS and email codes, in my personal Microsoft account. However, I have been unable to use these methods to complete the Azure portal sign-in.

I previously removed the Authenticator configuration from my personal Microsoft account security settings, but Azure continues to request Authenticator verification.

On the Visual Studio side, I can see the Dev Essentials subscription, but the alternate account section is empty.

I believe I may be the only administrator for the Azure subscription, although I cannot currently access the portal to verify this.

What I need help with

Could this be an issue with the authentication context between my personal Microsoft account and the Microsoft Entra ID directory associated with Azure?

Is the Azure portal using a separate MFA configuration that is not reflected in my personal Microsoft account security settings?

How can I determine which Microsoft Entra tenant and identity are being used for this sign-in?

If I am the only administrator and am locked out, what is the official recovery process for regaining access to my Azure tenant and subscription?

Could associating my personal Outlook.com email with Visual Studio Dev Essentials have any connection to this issue?

I would appreciate guidance from Microsoft support or anyone who has experienced a similar issue.

I have not attempted to unlink the Visual Studio subscription or delete my Microsoft account or Azure subscription.

Environment: Personal Outlook.com account, Visual Studio Dev Essentials, Azure portal, Microsoft Authenticator, India.

Thank you.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Subscription, account, billing | For business | Other
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  1. Dora-T 2,085 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-10-26T03:29:44.3266667+00:00

    Hi @Dineshkumar T B

    Please note that this is a user-to-user support forum, not an official Microsoft Support channel. I can share guidance based on publicly available information, but I do not have access to Microsoft's internal systems to investigate or reset your MFA registration directly, or to escalate your case to Microsoft's internal support teams.

    In this situation, you may need to contact Microsoft Support for assistance with recovering access to your Azure subscription and resolving the MFA issue, particularly if you are the only administrator.

    You can contact Microsoft Support by phone: Customer service phone numbers - Microsoft Support  

    When a call is made to support, the first step is typically an automated voice response system. In some countries, you may need to answer a series of automated questions before being connected to a representative.

    Here's an example of responses that have helped other users reach a support representative:

    IVR: What kind of problem are you worried about?

    You: Admin account locked

    IVR: What kind of product do you use?

    You: Office 365 for business

    IVR: Does it count for education or business?

    You: For Business

    IVR: Are you an admin?

    You: Yes

    IVR: Do you have another administrator in your organization?

    You: No

    IVR: Need a service request?

    You: Yes

    This should help you connect with a live support agent who can help you directly.

    Once connected, the support agent may be able to review available support options and determine the appropriate team to investigate the issue further.

    I hope this information helps.

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