Microsoft Authenticator App: Download and Setup Guide

What is the Microsoft Authenticator app?

The Microsoft Authenticator app is a mobile security tool from Microsoft. It helps confirm that the person trying to sign in is really you.

For two-factor sign-in, you first enter your account password. The app then provides a second check. It may show a notification for you to approve, ask you to match a number displayed on the sign-in screen, or generate a temporary verification code.

The app can also support passwordless verification for eligible Microsoft accounts. Instead of entering a password, you confirm the request in the app and unlock it with your phone’s PIN, fingerprint, or face-recognition feature. The exact choices depend on the account and, for a work or school account, the organization’s settings.

Authenticator does not replace your Microsoft account. It becomes one of the methods connected to that account for confirming sign-ins.

Is the Microsoft Authenticator app free?

Yes. Microsoft Authenticator is a free Microsoft app. Its account-verification, temporary-code, notification, and supported passwordless sign-in functions are included in the standard app.

There is no separate upgraded edition to unlock the main authentication features. A workplace or school may require the app as part of its own security system, but the genuine app itself should not request payment before installation or activation.

How to download the Microsoft Authenticator app

For a safe Microsoft Authenticator app download, begin on Microsoft’s official support site. Search there for the page named “Download Microsoft Authenticator.” That page directs Apple users to the official App Store listing and Android users to the official Google Play listing.

You can also open your phone’s store and search for “Microsoft Authenticator.” Before selecting Install or Get, check these details:

• The app name is Microsoft Authenticator.
• The publisher or developer is Microsoft Corporation.
• The listing uses the familiar blue lock-shaped Microsoft Authenticator icon.
• The listing describes account verification, sign-in approvals, or one-time codes.

These checks help distinguish the genuine Microsoft app authenticator from similarly named listings. Do not install the app from a download directory, an advertisement, an emailed installation file, or an unofficial app site.

If you searched for “app store Microsoft Authenticator,” “Microsoft Authenticator App Store,” or “Microsoft Authenticator download,” use the store result published by Microsoft Corporation. If you are uncertain, return to Microsoft’s official support site and use its download page rather than choosing among search-engine results.

Supported devices and requirements

Microsoft Authenticator is made for supported iOS and Android mobile devices. It is not offered as a regular Microsoft Authenticator desktop app for Windows PCs or Macs. Keeping the second sign-in step on a phone helps separate it from the computer where a password may be entered.

The current US App Store listing requires iOS 17 or later for an iPhone and iPadOS 17 or later for an iPad. Requirements can change as the app and operating systems receive security updates.

On Android, open the official Google Play listing from the device you plan to use. Google Play displays whether that specific phone and Android version are compatible. Work or school sign-in notifications may also require Google Play services and notifications to be enabled.

Before downloading, update the phone’s operating system and make sure the device has a screen lock, such as a PIN or biometric lock. Microsoft advises using the latest Authenticator release and does not support app versions that are more than one year old. A rooted or jailbroken device may not work with protected work or school credentials.

Setting up the app after download

Have the account’s sign-in details ready. If an account setup page will display a QR code, open that page on a second device when possible. A phone cannot easily scan a code shown on its own screen.

1. Open Authenticator and review the privacy prompts.
2. Select the plus sign or Add account.
3. Choose Personal account, Work or school account, or Other account, as appropriate.
4. Scan the QR code displayed by the account’s official security setup page. If Microsoft offers a direct sign-in option, you may instead sign in inside the app.
5. Allow camera access if you are scanning a QR code.
6. Allow notifications when prompted. They are needed for approval requests, although temporary codes can generally be generated without a data connection.
7. Complete the test approval or enter the temporary code requested by the setup page.

Do not assume setup is finished merely because an account name appears in the app. Wait until the account’s security page confirms that Authenticator was registered successfully. For a work or school account, follow any additional instructions provided by the organization.

If scanning fails, look on the official setup screen for an option such as “Can’t scan” or “Enter code manually.” Never share a setup QR code, temporary verification code, or unexpected approval request with another person.

Common questions about the app

Is there a desktop version? No. Microsoft’s official Authenticator is a mobile app for supported iOS and Android devices. A browser page or desktop program using a similar name is not the official mobile Authenticator download.

What happens if the phone is lost? Use another verification method already attached to the account, if available. For a personal account, visit Microsoft’s official account support area and find the sign-in helper or security-information guidance. For a work or school account, contact the organization’s IT administrator or help desk. Do not approve requests sent to a missing phone.

Backup may help when moving to a replacement phone, but restoration depends on the device type and prior backup settings. Some accounts, especially work or school accounts and passwordless registrations, must be verified or registered again. Prepare before replacing a phone by reviewing backup settings and adding another approved sign-in method.

Can one app cover multiple accounts? Yes. One Microsoft Authenticator app can hold multiple personal, work, school, and supported non-Microsoft accounts. Add each account separately with its own QR code or sign-in process. Each entry remains tied to the corresponding account, so approving one does not approve the others.