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FreddieShilohDog's avatar
FreddieShilohDog
Copper Contributor
Oct 02, 2020

Why is Microsoft Authenticator not Compatible with a laptop PC?

Logging into a Microsoft account through an app (Authenticator) does not work on a laptop. Why?

  • Mwoehrle's avatar
    Mwoehrle
    Brass Contributor

    FreddieShilohDog Can you give a little more information in regards to what you're asking? Are you saying that you can't use the app to authenticate yourself when signing into your laptop?

  • garymentions615's avatar
    garymentions615
    Copper Contributor

    Good question!  Some of us do not have a mobile device (personally I do not) yet there are financial institutions that require Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator to login.   The one-time codes sent to your email is apparently "not secure enough."  Perhaps an Authenticator app running on Windows 10 or 11 is not secure enough?

  • Oh that's easy. It's because Microsoft does not care about their customers enough to listen to them and provide features they want! Instead, their developers are allowed to have a "we know best" attitude and force people to adapt or leave. I'm sure Microsoft thinks they are so big people won't leave. Unfortunately, they are somewhat correct given the huge investment companies have in Microsoft...it is hard to shift away. But as a consultant I've seen companies do just that when they finally got fed up enough and refused to play Microsoft's games anymore.

     

    Microsoft has received numerous, legitimate complaints regarding this limitation. Instead of simply making their app available for Windows, they argue about why customers don't really need the feature. I even saw a Microsoft support forum where the Microsoft employees were trying to tell customers how to get around laws in countries that forbid forcing employees to use their personal cell phones for authentication.

     

    You have a choice -- quit using Microsoft products, or fork over the money to adapt by purchasing additional hardware for employees who do not have / do not want to use a personal cell phone. I think we can safely conclude by now that Microsoft has no plans to listen to customers needs by providing a good non-cell phone option.

     

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