won’t let me log into university email

This usually happens for one of these reasons on a new phone:

1. The approval request is still being sent to the old phone where Authenticator was last active.
2. Microsoft Authenticator is locked, so the number prompt does not appear.
3. Notifications are disabled or silent for Authenticator.
4. The app is outdated, or the phone has a network/date-time issue.

For a university account, the fastest checks are:

1. Check the old phone if it is still available
   • The sign-in notification may still be going there.
   • If it appears there, approve it and then update or remove the old Authenticator setup.
2. Open Authenticator directly on the new phone
   • Do not wait only for the push notification.
   • If there is a pending sign-in, the app may show New sign-in request inside the app.
   • If this is a work or school account, Authenticator may need to be unlocked before approval.
3. Check phone notification settings
   • Make sure notifications for Microsoft Authenticator are enabled and not silent.
   • On Android for work or school accounts, push notifications require Google Play Services and the Google Play Store to be installed and enabled.
4. Check basic phone conditions
   • Confirm the phone has internet access.
   • Try switching between Wi‑Fi and mobile data.
   • Make sure date and time are correct.
   • Update Microsoft Authenticator to the latest version.
5. If the app says authentication did not complete
   • Unlock the app.
   • Recheck notifications.
   • Recheck network connectivity.
6. If no other sign-in method is offered
   • University MFA settings are usually controlled by the school.
   • If only Authenticator is configured and the old device is no longer available, the school IT admin needs to reset MFA or require re-registration so Authenticator can be set up again on the new phone.
7. If another verification method is available
   • Select Other ways to sign in or a different verification method such as SMS, if offered.

If none of the above works and this is a university-managed account, the practical resolution is to contact the university IT help desk and ask them to reset MFA / require re-register multifactor authentication for the account so Authenticator can be configured again on the new phone.

References:

• Microsoft Authenticator FAQs
• Sign in using Microsoft Authenticator
• Authentication did not complete
• Troubleshoot problems with Microsoft Authenticator
• Can’t log into my university Microsoft account because of Authenticator app - Microsoft Q&A
• I cannot log in to my university Microsoft Teams because code doesn’t come to authenticator app, so I cannot log in from my MacBook and my phone. Help me please - Microsoft Q&A
• I can’t log in through my university email in Microsoft’s accaunt - Microsoft Q&A
• authenticator app issue after changing to a new phone - Microsoft Q&A