Microsoft Authenticator Not Working? 9 Current Fixes

Microsoft Authenticator can fail when the approval prompt never arrives, number matching will not approve, a one-time code is rejected, or QR setup breaks. The fix depends on whether the phone, the app, or the account method is blocking the sign-in. Start with the fastest checks, then move to account setup only after connection, notifications, time, and updates are correct.

1. Check the phone connection first

1. 1.Turn Airplane mode off.
2. 2.If you are on mobile data, switch to Wi-Fi and try the sign-in again.
3. 3.If you are on Wi-Fi, switch to Mobile data and try again.
4. 4.Turn off any VPN connection on the phone or network, then retry the Authenticator request.
5. 5.Open Authenticator and keep the app on screen while you send a fresh sign-in request.

One-time verification codes can work offline, but sign-in notifications and approval responses need internet access.

2. Turn Authenticator notifications back on

1. 1.Open Authenticator.
2. 2.Go to Settings and open Notification Settings.
3. 3.Turn Show notifications on.
4. 4.On Android, open Settings, then Notifications, then App notifications.
5. 5.Choose All apps if needed, select Authenticator, and turn notifications on.
6. 6.On iPhone, open Settings, then Apps, then Authenticator, then Notifications.
7. 7.Turn Allow Notifications on and choose visible alerts such as Lock Screen, Notification Center, or Banners.

3. Stop Focus or Do Not Disturb from hiding prompts

On iPhone, open Control Center and tap the active Focus mode, such as Do Not Disturb or Work, then tap it again to turn it off. To allow the app during Focus, use Settings > Focus > select the Focus > Apps > Allow Notifications From > Add Apps > Authenticator > Done. On Android, use Settings > Modes > Do Not Disturb to turn the mode off, or open the mode and allow Authenticator through Notification filters > Apps.

4. Correct codes that keep getting rejected

1. 1.On Android, open the Clock app.
2. 2.Tap More, then Settings, then Change date and time.
3. 3.Turn Automatic date and time on.
4. 4.Under Time zone, turn Automatic time zone on.
5. 5.On iPhone, open Settings, then General, then Date & Time.
6. 6.Turn Set Time Automatically on.
7. 7.Open Settings, then Privacy & Security, then Location Services, then System Services, and turn Setting Time Zone on.

Authenticator codes refresh every 30 seconds, so correct phone time matters when a code looks right but still fails.

5. Update Authenticator and the phone

1. 1.Open Microsoft’s Download Microsoft Authenticator page.
2. 2.Under iOS, choose Get the app for the Apple App Store; under Android, choose Get the app for the Google Play store.
3. 3.Update or install Microsoft Authenticator.
4. 4.Open Authenticator, then Settings, then App updates, and turn App updates on.
5. 5.On Android, open Settings, then System, then Software update, and follow the on-screen steps.
6. 6.On iPhone, open Settings, then General, then Software Update.
7. 7.If you use Microsoft Defender or Intune Company Portal, update those apps too.

6. Let Android stop restricting Authenticator

On Android, battery optimization can interfere with Authenticator sign-in prompts. Open Authenticator > Settings > Turn off battery optimization and follow the prompt. Use this Android app setting before removing the account or clearing app data.

7. Choose another sign-in option when push approval fails

1. 1.At the Microsoft sign-in screen, enter your username and select Next.
2. 2.Select Send notification to request a new Authenticator prompt.
3. 3.If that does not work, select Other ways to sign in.
4. 4.Choose Approve a request on my Microsoft Authenticator app to send another push request.
5. 5.Open Authenticator or tap the New sign-in request notification.
6. 6.Tap or enter the matching number, then select Approve.
7. 7.If a code option is offered, choose the authenticator app verification code option, open Authenticator, select the account tile, and enter the current one-time code.

Use the code option when the app opens normally but push notifications will not cooperate.

8. Fix QR setup when the camera will not scan

When you first set up Authenticator, select Allow when the phone asks for camera access. On Android, use Settings > Apps > Authenticator > Permissions > Camera > Allow; on iPhone, use Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera > Authenticator and turn access on. If scanning is still not possible, select Can’t scan the QR image or I can’t scan the bar code on the computer, then choose Enter code manually in Authenticator and type the code and URL shown on the computer.

9. Re add the account when the tile is broken

This fixes an account tile that no longer verifies sign-ins after phone, notification, time, update, and setup checks have failed. Microsoft warns that once you remove an account, you will not be able to use that device to verify sign-in, so line up another way in first: have a second security method already registered, or open the re-add page on your computer, before you remove anything.

1. 1.Open Authenticator.
2. 2.Select the affected account.
3. 3.Tap the Settings gear.
4. 4.Select Remove account.
5. 5.For a personal Microsoft account, go to account.microsoft.com/security, then Manage how I sign in, then Add a new way to sign in or verify, then Use an app.
6. 6.On your phone, open Authenticator, tap the plus icon, choose Personal account, and select Scan a QR Code.
7. 7.For a work or school account, go to mysignins.microsoft.com/security-info, then Add sign-in method, choose Microsoft Authenticator, select Add, and follow the QR code setup.
8. 8.If you changed phones or reset the app on Android, open Authenticator, select Restore from backup or Begin recovery before you sign in, then sign in with the personal Microsoft account used during backup.
9. 9.On iPhone, restore runs through iCloud instead: enable iCloud Drive, iCloud Keychain, and iCloud Backup, install Authenticator, then sign in to each account to finish the restore. Backups do not cross platforms, so an iOS backup cannot be restored on Android.
10. 10.For a work or school account, add a backup method at mysignins.microsoft.com/security-info > Add sign-in method when your organization allows it.
11. 11.Contact your workplace or school support team when you cannot replace missing security info yourself.
12. 12.Do not use older fixes that tell you to install Authenticator on PC or Mac, rely on two-way SMS, or recover saved passwords inside Authenticator. Microsoft’s current guidance says Authenticator is for smartphones, two-way SMS is deprecated, and Authenticator password autofill stopped working starting July 2025, with passwords no longer accessible in the app from August 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why am I not getting Microsoft Authenticator notifications?

The usual causes are no internet connection, notifications turned off in Authenticator or phone settings, Focus or Do Not Disturb blocking alerts, VPN interference, or Android battery optimization.

Can Microsoft Authenticator codes work without internet?

Yes. The one-time verification codes refresh every 30 seconds and do not require internet or cellular service, but push sign-in notifications and approval responses do.

Can I use Microsoft Authenticator on a PC or Mac?

No. Microsoft’s current guidance says Authenticator is not available for PC or Mac because authenticator apps are designed for smartphones.

What should I do before moving Authenticator to a new phone?

On Android, turn on cloud backup in Authenticator from the three-dot menu, then Settings, then Cloud Backup, and pick the personal Microsoft account that stores it — use that same account for recovery on the new or reset phone. On iPhone it runs through iCloud instead: enable iCloud Drive, iCloud Keychain, and iCloud Backup, then find Authenticator in your Saved to iCloud list and turn its toggle on. Backups only restore to the same device type, so an iPhone backup will not restore on Android.