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New Phone - All accounts show 'Sign In To add your account' -Enter code from authenticator Doom Loop

Tim Blacknell 0 Reputation points
2025-11-24T14:36:26.3633333+00:00

Hi

I am the super user for all my companies Office accounts. As I have created them over the past couple of years I have added 2 factor authentication. I have just upgraded my iPhone. When I have gone into the authenticator App I have noticed that all of my office accounts have been signed out and it says 'Sign In to add account'. I press the 'Sign in' next to the account and it asks for the email and password which I enter. It then asks to 'Enter the code displayed in the Microsoft Authenticator app on your mobile device.' I AM IN THE APP SO HOW CAN I GET THE CODE? There is a 'Get Codes' at the bottom of the screen but the code it gives says it's not recognised. I have managed to gain access to my own microsoft account as I have more than the authenticator listed in security but the others only have the password and the authenticator app.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Install, redeem, activate | For business | iOS
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  1. Alexis-NG 16,185 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2025-11-24T15:06:13.2633333+00:00

    Hi @Tim Blacknell,
    Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A Forum.

    I'm sorry to hear you're having trouble logging into your Microsoft account. This issue commonly occurs when your Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) settings need to be reset, particularly after changing devices or reinstalling the Microsoft Authenticator app. Since your new device hasn’t been configured with the Authenticator yet, you're currently unable to access your account. The app remains linked to your previous device, which is why you're not receiving the authentication codes.

     

    Since you are using a business email address, the MFA settings are managed by your administrator account for your work organization. For assistance with resetting or updating your MFA, you will need to use your admin account to resolve this if you still have access to it.  

     You can also follow the steps in this Microsoft article to reset your MFA settings for other accounts: Manage user authentication methods for Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication. 

    Once you have reset your MFA, the next time you log in to your account, you will be guided through the process of setting up the Microsoft Authenticator app again from the beginning by scanning a QR code. This will break the loop and allow you to access your account normally.  

    However, if you are the sole Global Administrator on the tenant and you lost your access to this account, please follow the steps outlined below to proceed with account recovery and regain access.

    Option 1: Contact Microsoft Data Protection Support by Phone (Primary Method)  

    To regain access to your admin account as you can't access the Admin Portal, you can try reaching out to our Global Customer Service phone to raise a request for resetting your authentication method here: Customer service phone numbers - Microsoft Support. During the call, request to speak to an agent, and share with them every detail related to your query and also mention that you are the only admin lost access to your account. This should allow you to contact the appropriate team so you can solve this incident as soon as possible. 

      

    Here are some tips and an example of a prompt to help you navigate the IVR more effectively:       

    In some countries, it is an automated conversation like: 

    IVR: What kind of problem are you concerned about?       

    You: Authenticator.       

    IVR: What kind of product do you use?       

    You: Office 365 for business.       

    IVR confirmation: education or company account?       

    You: For companies       

    IVR: Are you an administrator?       

    You: Yes.       

    IVR: Do you have another administrator in your organization?       

    You: No.       

    You: Yes. I need to create a ticket. Please send me direct to the Data Protection Team.  

     

    Option 2: Create a Temporary Account (Trial Tenant) to Submit a Support Ticket (Alternative Method) 

    If you still cannot reach to a live agent, there is still a workaround, you might consider registering for a new tenant by signing up for a trial subscription via this link Microsoft 365 Business Plans and Pricing | Microsoft 365. This would allow you to create a new tenant following the prompts provided. Once set up, you can access the admin console of the new tenant and submit a support ticket requesting to speak with the Data Protection team on behalf of your previous tenant.       

    Please note that forum moderators do not have access to user account settings and cannot assist with logging in, resetting passwords, or changing access rights. While we do not have access to internal systems or administrative tools required to resolve account-specific or backend-related issues, but we’ll continue doing our best to support you within the scope of our responsibilities.   

    I hope this helps you regain access to your account quickly. I'm glad to assist and truly hope the information provided has been useful. Please feel free to reach out anytime if you need further assistance.  If you find my post helpful, kindly consider marking it as the accepted answer. Doing so can assist others in the community who may have similar questions in finding solutions more quickly.  Thank you for your kindness and contributions to the forum. 


    If the answer is helpful, click "Accept Answer" and vote positively. If you have more questions about this answer, click "Comment".

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  2. Tim Blacknell 0 Reputation points
    2025-11-24T14:37:39.54+00:00

    I need to speak to microsoft support

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  3. AI answer

    2025-11-24T14:36:40.24+00:00

    It seems you are experiencing issues with the Microsoft Authenticator app after upgrading your iPhone. When you see the prompt to enter a code from the Authenticator app while trying to sign in, it typically means that the app is not correctly linked to your accounts anymore due to the device change.

    Here are some steps you can take to resolve this issue:

    1. Check for Backup Codes: When you set up two-factor authentication, you should have received backup codes. If you have those, you can use them to sign in.
    2. Use Alternative Sign-In Methods: If you have other recovery options set up (like a phone number or email), try those to regain access to your accounts.
    3. Reinstall the Authenticator App: Sometimes, reinstalling the app can help. After reinstalling, you will need to set it up again using your accounts.
    4. Contact Support: If you cannot access your accounts using the above methods, consider reaching out to Microsoft support for assistance. They can help you regain access to your accounts.
    5. Enable App Passwords: If you are using legacy applications that do not support modern authentication, you may need to set up app passwords as a workaround.

    Make sure to keep your backup codes and recovery options handy for future reference to avoid similar issues.


    References:

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