What users complain about in Microsoft Authenticator

Unnecessary

My college essentially cornered me into using this app. Now I can’t access my account at all due to the perpetual loop it’s got me stuck in. Can’t sign in because I can’t authenticate. Can’t authenticate because I can’t sign in. All was perfectly fine before but somehow more tech on top of tech is always pushed.

This makes no sense

This makes absolutely no sense. It wants me to use the Authenticator Code to sign in. I open the app, and the app has sign in info, but no code. How do I click on “The matching code” to sign in?!!!

Login from new iPhone

This sucks trying to authenticate from new device

Authentication Loop

I went to the desktop for the authentication code on the app. I went on the app for the same thing. I don’t know if it’s my new phone but this app sucks!

So bad

Nope it’s giving me the auth code and telling me to go to my Authenticator when I’m already there like wth

Horrible

This process is insane. Signing in on Authenticator requires Authenticator to be open, but that is impossible because I’m trying to sign in to it! It’s a known issue, and Microsoft is the worst of all time.

unreliable design

Why should I approve Authenticator by Authenticator itself？

Does not work on Duo

Can’t submit auth code on front screen of Duo. Please fix

No Escalation

I am getting login notifications that are not from me and I have no way to flag or report those attempts as suspicious. I dont know if Microsoft is protecting users from bad actors consistently attempting to trigger Accept in the Authenticator. It feels very risky.

Too many Sign-In prompts

Since the update I keep having to sign-in and approve authentication at random times of day. Probably daily. I wish work didn’t require it.

Latest release is slower

The latest release changed the UI, and it appears 1-2 seconds slower to start up for an authentication challenge code. Annoying when my employer requires me to enter the challenge code a dozen times a day. Also, fill in your release notes you cowards.

Does not work properly with iPhone Duo

When prompted for 2FA, the iPhone Duo’s front display is too small, so the keypad is blocking the Approve button, and there is no way to hide the keypad once you’ve entered the number.

Didn’t sync

Got a new phone and it didn’t sync any of my accounts. Now it’s not working to try to sync up any of my accounts. Formerly good, but NEVER get a new phone or it’ll be trash

Does Not Load Anything

I downloaded this for my work account, thinking that it would be faster than the other two-factor authentication methods. That was a mistake. When I click on the QR code icon, it took about a minute to open. Then it would not load the camera. Deleted app after three failed attempts to do this. Will not be using this app.

Often locks itself out

When trying to log into the app itself it will ask to approve the authentication code from within the app. Attempting to close the screen or reaching the authentication page will result in error.

Should not be mandatory

This app should not be mandatory to use to access any Microsoft monopolized app. All businesses in the US, including banks and airlines, use code by text. There is no valid reason why certain business demand this or expensive token generators instead of the simple code by text. Especially when this utility app size is over 100 MB at download; with updates it will become a monster size app.

ridiculous

use authenticator to sign into authenticator, i can’t, because i need to sign into authenticator, but i need to authenticate the authentication without being signed in. horribly designed system.

disappointed every time

genuinely always something with it, it’s the most complicated app aswell as all the other microsoft stuff Made me Sell my xbox because how much authentication was needed Everymonth and now i’m having issues with my applications that go through this app 👎

Never works

This app literally never works and always puts me in a loop of trying to authenticate the Authenticator app. What a waste

Review

Terrible for personal. As the app requires you to you use an email you can only use it for that purpose. I was recommended this app years ago used it was simple. It has since been scrapped I can no longer access the additional features to use it for identification for apps tied to my account. The codes do not work even if you have a code as you need it for that specific site/app. Because of this people express extreme frustration I have tried numerous apps like this none of them work.

very bizarre

The terminology reminds me of when I first started using Microsoft products 30 years ago. For example, there is no explanation that “Security key“ is a physical USB key. Also, I am told that I should choose a passkey so I used my iPhone to scan the QR code that was displayed on the screen. then I am told that there was an error in setting up my account. Come on Microsoft. This really should work by now, and it should work seamlessly. You are just reminding all the users why they switched to Apple: Microsoft really doesn’t care about users.

Broken auth

The latest update requires force closing the app, letting the website fail, then restart the auth process again and hopefully auth will work. The support link is broken, so I’m Leaving a bad review since that works.

Frustrating

It rarely works. What usually happens is that my MS account will ask for verification in Authenticator, and then I open the app and Authenticator itself says I need to authenticate before I can use it. So I spend most of my time just stuck in this infinite loop.

authenticator app for iphone

I click on the app for authenticator and instead of being in the app, it asks for a code from the app. There is no way to install the app on my iphone 18 which I got because somewhere I read the authenticator would work on it. It does not. The app is broken and won’t download properly on my phone.

New version of App sucks

Latest version of app doesn’t send push notifications for my financial institution. Used to work.

TERRIBLE

For 10 whole minutes my authenticator app was displaying the same page and direction as the email app that was referring me to use the code in the authenticator app

Never works for me

Locked me out of all of my accounts because it never worked, then when I tried to log in again in this app, it kept asking for a verification in the app. So the app that I can’t use, is asking for a verification from itself… confusing and frustrating.

Impossible to use

It wants to know the code in my app but that request comes from the app itself and I cannot navigate away from it

Fine, but quirky

Mostly works fine. The passkey creation process is confusing to everyone. Migration from one iPhone to another is a beating.

Worst and most unpractical app

Won’t let you sign into your accounts without being authenticated, but also can’t authenticate yourself because you can’t sign into your authenticator app since you need to authenticate yourself

Horrible app - avoid!

I loved it at first - made me feel safer. However, I upgraded my phone and cannot access my Microsoft files or one drive at all now. The Authenticator app provides a number to use for verification but it never works. I requested help and no one ever responds. Could someone please tell me how to access my files and delete this debilitating app?

Buggy - still!

Won’t let me add some accounts. Doesn’t respond to requests for authentication.

Too complicated to set up

Way too complicated to set up. You have to have 2 devices to get authenticate

Very clumsy

Terrible instructions

Had to download just to cancel a free trial

Above

Truly horrible app

I have a consistent issue where I cannot log into my email app without it automatically launching this one and then generates a code saying to enter on authentication app but i literally cannot because im already in the app

Completely useless in some scenarios

No way to tell what app or ip or get really any useful piece of information in the event someone knows your email, and tries to log in via “another way”. No way to stop random login attempts from random third-world countries at 3 am, at least I assume that’s what this is. Maybe given Microsoft’s recent legal troubles, automated geo ip based blocking would make employees’ lives too difficult ha. There are far more competently done alternatives, without all the upsell and/or slop you get with all of this company’s products, look elsewhere.

Does not work

Never works, keeps doing an infinite sign in loop. Useless

It’s morally wrong!

To ask someone to write in your app if they just download it. A real review requires a period of time to write an honest review. Your grandmother would be disappointed in you.

Forced sign in loops, as many have mentioned

Keeps ignoring my preferences and forces me to sign in with authenticator, and then the authenticator app requires me to sign in with authenticator. But I cant check the code that is being sent because I can’t login without the code. Meaning I am completely locked out of the app. Seriously?