Forum Discussion
Authenticator App
hi Aimee95 This is a common situation but unfortunately, you can’t bypass the Authenticator step directly for security reasons. That’s by design in Microsoft Authenticator. hope below will help.
What you can do depends on what recovery options you still have:
Try alternative verification methods:
When prompted, click “I can’t use my Microsoft Authenticator app right now” and see if you’re offered:
- SMS code
- Alternate email
- Backup verification methods
If any of these are set up, you can reset your password that way.
Use account recovery
If no other methods work:
- Go to the Microsoft account recovery page
- Fill in the recovery form with as much detail as possible
This is the main path for personal accounts.
If this is a work/school account
You’ll need to contact your IT admin:
- Ask them to reset MFA / re-register authentication methods
- They can remove the old Authenticator registration so you can set it up again on a new device
For next time (important tip)
Once you regain access:
- Enable multiple verification methods (phone + email)
- Turn on Authenticator backup (iCloud/Google backup)
The SMS service is temporarily not working, I have been waiting since more than 10 days and trying almost every day if the service started working, is there any other way to get the code ? I have two options only 1st is email and 2nd is SMS to mobile number, as I forget the password so I wanted the email code is used to password reset and because 2 step verification is turned on, so 2nd code also required to get in and actually change the password, and SMS service is not working since days. I am stuck !
hi kamal313 That’s a really frustrating situation , I’ve seen a few people run into this when one of the MFA methods stops working.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a way to skip the SMS step if it’s part of your 2-step verification. Even if you reset the password using email, Microsoft will still ask for the second factor before letting you fully sign in.
At this point, your best option is to try the account recovery process and select something like “I can’t use these verification methods” if it shows up. Fill in as much detail as you can previous passwords, contacts, subjects, anything that proves it’s your account.
You can also try signing in from a device or browser you’ve used before, sometimes that reduces the verification prompts, though it’s not guaranteed.
If SMS hasn’t worked for 10+ days, it’s probably not a temporary glitch anymore, so waiting may not help much. Microsoft support can be contacted, but just to set expectations they usually won’t bypass MFA and will point you back to recovery.
Not ideal, I know… but recovery form + trying from a trusted device is really the best path forward here.
Thanks for the response,
I will try this option of not accessing any of the verification method above next, else almost all I have tried.
Recovery has been filled twice, with all the details like security questions, recent email recipients addresses with accurate subject lines, old passwords and all, both times recovery email link was shared, which lead to the same thing at the end, because of two step verification got stuck at SMS , as service not working, I even tried to get the 2nd code as well on the email, but it also did not work because email was already used for account recovery/password rest, and declined with an error "There's a temporary problem with the service. Please try again. If you continue to get this message, try again later"
There is no proper solution to it, just try again later and try again later, I don't know why this kind of loop.
This SMS service should have been replaced by Whatsapp code long ago as the other email services are doing.
I am so stuck, this was decade old account, and this email was used almost everywhere officially. Even my linkedin is at this email also, I was able to access it but could not able to change/add the new email account for anything happen in future for recovery purposed, can't even add my mobile number there.
