Authenticator 'Your Screen Lock has changed' Loop

Michael Stack 40 Reputation points
2024-08-28T19:26:34.75+00:00

I need help getting the authenticator to allow me to access my account.
Each time I try to use it, I get a message that my screen lock has changed, and it has me re-enable phone sign in.
I do this and then it goes back to letting me deny or approve the request and it starts all over.
I have removed the account from my authenticator app and my account online and then re-created it on both.
Nothing seems to work.
Please advise.
Currently using Android OS version 14, Moto Razer 2024.

Microsoft Authenticator
Microsoft Authenticator
A Microsoft app for iOS and Android devices that enables authentication with two-factor verification, phone sign-in, and code generation.
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2 answers

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  1. Brainiac 5 Reputation points
    2024-12-27T12:05:00.0633333+00:00

    I solved it, here are the steps:

    1. Sign-In to your microsoft account;
    2. Go to Security tab and click on Manage how I sign in;
    3. Disable Send sign-in notification;
    4. Disable Passwordless account if enabled;
    5. Disable Two-step verification if enabled;
    6. On your phone open Microsoft Authenticator and delete the account;
    7. Clean the cache of the app and force close of the app;
    8. Reboot the phone;
    9. Re-enable all previous settings;
    1 person found this answer helpful.

  2. Justin Martin 0 Reputation points
    2024-09-13T17:18:11.7133333+00:00

    So, I was able to solve this by re-establishing the account in the Authenticator app. It was not easy, there are a couple of account recovery processes that fork pretty severely on MSFT's support site and it took me three tries to find the right way to do it. I can't remember the exact options available, I should have written it down so that I could share it with everyone. I'm sorry about that! But there is a way to work through the recovery process such that you get an opportunity to enter the OTP code from the Authenticator app - this still works despite the error message during push notifications or number-matching. Once authenticated that way, I removed the account from the Authenticator app, then went into the account security settings, turned off 2-step verification, and removed the Authenticator app as an authentication option. Then I added the Authenticator app back using the normal QR-code scanning process, then turned 2-step verification back on. I was then able to log out and log back in using number-matching with the Authenticator app, and it worked fine. Again, I'm sorry for not writing down the exact steps from the account recovery process to trigger the option to enter the OTP code, but it does still work even with the other errors present.

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