Is your Microsoft Authenticator app not working suddenly? Sometimes it can happen. We know it is frustrating and annoying when your mobile application ‘Microsoft Authenticator’ stops working unexpectedly. But no worries at all. Here today we will share what errors can occur with Microsoft Authenticator, the reasons for those problems and obviously some solutions that you can try to fix the issues.
What is Microsoft Authenticator App?
Microsoft Authenticator is an app provided by Microsoft for two-factor authentication on a variety of Microsoft services, including Outlook, Azure, and Office 365. Users can use this app to generate one-time codes and approve sign-in attempts from other devices.
Microsoft Authenticator provides added security to keep your accounts and data safe. When you use it in conjunction with other security measures, such as two-factor authentication, fingerprint scanning, or pin codes, you can be sure that only you can access the data associated with your account.
By using Microsoft Authenticator, you will be sent a verification code when you log in to your account. You’ll need to enter this code to complete the login process. This code helps to ensure that your account is secure and that only you can access it.
Microsoft Authenticator also makes it easier to keep track of your passwords. It can store passwords for a variety of accounts and sync them across devices, allowing you to access them more easily. It can also remember multi-factor authentication settings for each service, reducing the amount of time you need to spend setting up your accounts.
Let’s install the app from Google Play or App Store.
Why Is My Microsoft Authenticator App Not Working? Some Common Reasons:
You opened your Microsoft Authenticator app and found something wrong. Maybe the app isn’t responding, not working all features properly or showing any error message. These are the common issues that most of the users face. So, are you curious to know why your Microsoft Authenticator app is not working? Here are some common reasons:
Unstable Internet Connection: Microsoft Authenticator is an internet based mobile application. So, it is completely dependable on internet connection. Without a stable internet, this app can’t grab any data from its server. As a result, your Microsoft Authenticator app doesn’t work or respond at all.
Outdated Version of App: Any older version apps aren’t able to offer a smooth experience to its users. So, maybe you are using an outdated version of your Microsoft Authenticator app and you are facing some problems.
Insufficient Phone Storage: Are your phone running out of storage? That can be another reason that can make your app stop working. If your phone storage is insufficient. It will affect not only the app, but also the whole phone operating system negatively.
Bugs & Glitches: This means there is something wrong in the design / development of the application and as a result the app does not work in the proper way. After releasing an app, users may discover some errors that were undetected by the designer and developer. So, if you find any unexpected result in your Microsoft Authenticator app, it may be caused by its bugs and glitches
Cache Issue: Cache is a mechanism that stores some data of your apps to improve performance. But when the cache data are overcrowded, the performance is negatively impacted. That is why maybe your app is not working.
Operating System Errors: Your smartphone is a digital device. So, any problem can happen anytime! Insufficient phone storage and cache issues are considered as errors of your phone operating system. But there are many more different types of system errors that can happen and your app can’t work properly for this issue.
Microsoft Authenticator Server Down: As you already know, Microsoft Authenticator app works with internet connection. That means it is connected to their server. Sometimes the app doesn’t work if their server is down.
7 Solutions You Can Try To Fix Microsoft Authenticator App Errors on Android / iPhone
You are here because your essential app ‘Microsoft Authenticator’ is not working. Am I right? No worries! We will share some possible fixes that can help you to troubleshoot the Microsoft Authenticator app problems.
Fix #1: Make Sure Your Internet Connection Is On
Sometimes we try to use Apps without turning on our internet connection. So, make sure that you are connected to the internet and obviously it should be stable. Otherwise, you will not be able to use the Microsoft Authenticator app. Because it is an online based mobile application.
Fix #2: Force-Stop The App & Relaunch
Most of the time we don’t close any app properly after using it. So, the apps keep running in the background. That doesn’t create problems all the time. But sometimes it crashes or freezes because it wasn’t closed in a proper way. So, you can force-stop the Microsoft Authenticator app from your phone settings and relaunch it. If this solution doesn’t work, try all the other solutions.
How to Force-Stop Microsoft Authenticator App on Android:
- Open the ‘Settings’ option on your Android phone.
- Go to the apps list that are installed on your phone. On different android phones it named differently, like “Apps” / “Applications” / “Manage Apps” / “Apps & notifications” / “Application Manager”
- Find the “Microsoft Authenticator” app on the applications list and tap on it.
- Then tap on the “Force Stop” button.
How to Force-Stop Microsoft Authenticator App on iPhone:
- Double tap on the home button.
- All the running apps will be displayed on your screen. Swipe left and right to find the Microsoft Authenticator app there.
- Then swipe up the Microsoft Authenticator app to force close this application.
Fix #3: Clear App Cache & Data
Your phone stores some data temporarily in cache files to make a better and quicker experience on the Microsoft Authenticator app. It is needed sometimes to clear app cache data to fix app errors. Basically, clearing app cache data restores the app to default. So, it works most of the time as a quick fix if your Microsoft Authenticator app is not working.
How to Clear Microsoft Authenticator App Cache & Data on Android:
- Open the ‘Settings’ option on your Android phone.
- Go to the apps list that are installed on your phone. On different android phones it named differently, like “Apps” / “Applications” / “Manage Apps” / “Apps & notifications” / “Application Manager”
- Find the “Microsoft Authenticator” app on the applications list and tap on it.
- Then go to the “Storage” option.
- Click “Clear Cache” and “Clear Data”.
How to Clear Microsoft Authenticator App Cache & Data on iPhone:
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Tap on the Microsoft Authenticator app from the list.
- Now click the “Offload App” button.
Fix #4: Update Your App To Latest Version
Are you using any older version of Microsoft Authenticator app? Then you should update it right now. Sometimes the outdated older version of the app doesn’t work smoothly for different bugs and glitches. So, let’s go to the Google Play (Android) or App Store (iPhone) and update your app to the latest version they offer.
Fix #5: Check And Install Your Android / iOS Phone Updates
Not only apps, you also need to ensure that your phone’s operating system is updated with the latest version. Sometimes your app doesn’t work because of any bugs that have occurred from the outdated operating system on your phone. So, system software updating is equally important as a particular app update.
How to Check And Install System Update on Android:
- Go to Settings > System.
- Tap on the “System Update” menu and click “Check for Updates”.
- If you find “Your system is up to date”. That means you don’t need to do anything with the system update. But if you find any new updates there. Let’s install it.
How to Check And Install System Update on iPhone:
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update and tap on “Automatic Updates”.
- Now, turn on the “Download iOS Updates” and “Install iOS Updates”.
- Then it will upgrade your iPhone operating system to the latest version.
Fix #6: Uninstall & Reinstall The App
If none of the above solutions didn’t work so far. Let’s completely delete/uninstall the Microsoft Authenticator app and again install from the Google Play or App Store. It may help to fix the ‘Microsoft Authenticator app not working’ issue.
Fix #7: Restart Your Phone
If your Microsoft Authenticator app is encountering hanging or crashing while using. Restarting / Rebooting your phone can be a quick solution in that case.
How to Restart Android Phone:
- Hold the power button for 5-10 seconds to show the power menu.
- Then simply click the “Restart” option.
How to Restart iPhone:
- If you are an iPhone X, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, or iPhone 13 users, hold the power button and volume buttons at the same time. And if you are an iPhone SE, iPhone 8, or earlier version user, you need to hold only the power button.
- You will get an option named “slide to power off”. Simply, drag it to the right.
Fix #8: Check If The Microsoft Authenticator Server Is Down
Microsoft Authenticator app is connected to their own server. Their mobile application also won’t work if the server is down. So, before trying any other solution. You should check first if their server is live or not. Let’s check Microsoft Authenticator server status at issitedownrightnow.com
Fix #9: Contact Customer Support
Did you try all the probable solutions that I have mentioned above? But are you still facing the same issue with your Microsoft Authenticator app? Then you should reach out to their customer support. Don’t hesitate to let them know about the problem you are facing. Reach them out through this link and wait for their response.
Microsoft Authenticator App Troubleshooting FAQs
How to fix the ‘Microsoft Authenticator app not working’ issue?
Try to force-close the app, clear cache, uninstall and reinstall, update to the latest version of the app. If no solutions don’t work, contact Microsoft Authenticator customer support.
Is microsoft.com down right now?
You can check the Microsoft Authenticator server up / down status with different sites like isitdownrightnow.com / downdetector.com / saashub.com
How to update the Microsoft Authenticator app?
You can update your Microsoft Authenticator app from Google Play or App Store.
Conclusion
In this article, we have tried to share some fixes that may help you if you are facing any technical issue while using Microsoft Authenticator app. All the fixes are probable. So, you have to try one by one. If you got any other solution that worked for you. Don’t forget to share it in the comment section which will help the community of Microsoft Authenticator users!
