Microsoft Teams (University Account): Authenticator Not Showing Approval Request – Stuck in Sign-In Loop

Oliver Al-Masri 0 Reputation points
2026-02-24T21:32:21.5566667+00:00

Screenshot 2026-02-25 at 8.33.38 AM

User's image

User's image

Situation:

I am trying to sign into Microsoft Teams on my laptop using my university account.

After entering my email and password, Teams displays a number and asks me to approve the sign-in in the Microsoft Authenticator app (number matching).

When I open the Authenticator app on my phone:

I do not see any approval request.

My university account shows “Sign in to add your account.”

If I tap “Sign in,” it asks me to enter a code from the Authenticator app.

There is no code being generated.

This creates a loop:

Laptop → “Approve sign in in Authenticator”

Phone → “Sign in using Authenticator”

I cannot complete authentication.

Result

I am unable to sign into Microsoft Teams because the Authenticator app is not showing the approval request or generating a code for my university account.

Environment

Microsoft Teams Desktop App

iPhone with Microsoft Authenticator installed

University-managed Microsoft 365 account

Authenticator works correctly for my other accounts

Troubleshooting Attempted

  • Swiped down in Authenticator to refresh
  • Closed and reopened both apps
  • Confirmed internet connection on both devices
  • Confirmed other accounts in Authenticator are working

Question

How can I sign in if my Microsoft Authenticator app is not showing the approval request or code for my university account?

Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Teams for education | Sign up and Sign in | Sign in
0 comments

2 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Kristen-L 13,850 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-02-24T22:59:28.8+00:00

    Hi @Oliver Al-Masri,

    Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum.  

    Thank you for reaching out. I understand how difficult it is to get stuck in a loop where Microsoft Teams asks you to approve the sign‑in, but the Authenticator app never shows the approval request.

    This normally happens when the Authenticator registration for your university account is no longer valid or has become desynchronized, which is why the app shows “Sign in to add your account” instead of generating codes or receiving prompts.

    Because of how university accounts are managed, only your university’s IT department can reset your Multi‑Factor Authentication (MFA) settings. They must clear your existing Authenticator registration so you can set it up again on your device.

    Please contact your university's IT Help Desk or support team and explain the situation. You can say: "I am stuck in a login loop between Microsoft Teams and the Microsoft Authenticator app. I cannot get the code to sign in."   

      

    Specifically ask them to “Reset my MFA settings or allow me to re-register for MFA". This is a standard request, and your university's IT team should be able to assist you with it.    

    You can also share the steps in this Microsoft article for them so they can help reset your MFA settings for you Manage user authentication methods for Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication.  

      

    Once your university's admin has reset your MFA, the next time you log in to your account, you will be guided through setting up the Microsoft Authenticator app again from the beginning by scanning a QR code. This will break the loop and allow you to access your account normally.   

      

    Please note that forum moderators do not have access to user account settings and cannot assist with logging in, resetting passwords, or changing access rights. While we do not have access to internal systems or administrative tools required to resolve account-specific or backend-related issues but we’ll continue doing our best to support you within the scope of our responsibilities.  

     

    I hope this information is helpful. Please try the steps and let me know whether they resolve the issue. If the problem persists, we can work together to find a solution.  

    As other users will also search for information in this community, your vote can significantly help those with similar inquiries quickly locate the most relevant resources. 

    Thank you for your kindness and for contributing to the forum.   

    If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".       

    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread. 

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments

  2. AI answer

    2026-02-24T21:33:01.07+00:00

    To resolve the issue where the Microsoft Authenticator app is not showing the approval request or generating a code for your university account, you can try the following steps:

    1. Check for Multiple Accounts: Ensure that you are using the correct account in the Authenticator app. Sometimes, if multiple accounts are present, it can be confusing.
    2. Re-register MFA: Since you are using a university-managed account, you may need to contact your university's IT department or administrator to reset your multi-factor authentication (MFA) settings. They can require you to re-register for MFA, which will prompt you to set up the Authenticator app again.
    3. Use Alternative Sign-In Methods: If your university account allows it, try signing in using an alternative method, such as a phone number or email verification.
    4. Update the Authenticator App: Make sure that the Microsoft Authenticator app is updated to the latest version. Sometimes, issues can arise from using outdated software.
    5. Reinstall the Authenticator App: If the problem persists, consider uninstalling and reinstalling the Microsoft Authenticator app. This can sometimes resolve issues with the app not functioning correctly.

    If none of these steps work, you may need to escalate the issue to Microsoft support or your university's IT support for further assistance.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

    Was this answer helpful?

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.