Why am I not receiving Microsoft Authenticator Push Notifications?

Overview

If you are not receiving approval (push) notifications from the Microsoft Authenticator app, it usually means that your account is not set up properly or your phone is restricting access in the background.  Check your device settings to ensure notifications are enabled.

If you are not receiving push notifications from Microsoft Authenticator app: 

  • Confirm that the app is still linked to your account
  • Make sure your phone is not restricting the app in the background 
  • Disable battery/data saving features 
  • Double-check notification permissions

Confirm That The App is Still Linked to Your Account

If you are not receiving any push notifications, your Microsoft Authenticator App may no longer be linked to your account:

Your account may not be properly linked if: 
 
  • You recently updated or reset your phone
  • You deleted and reinstalled the Microsoft Authenticator app
  • You restored your phone from a backup (Microsoft Authenticator may not restore MFA credentials from backups)
To check the state of your account:
 
  1. Open the Authenticator app on your device.
  2. Locate and tap your @purdue.edu account in the list.
    • If you see a 6 digit-code and the account details, the application is set up.
    • If it errors or is blank, it may be broken and need to be re-added.

If the account shows errors or is blank, the app cannot generate codes or send approval prompts, and you must re-register it. 

You can find steps for registering your device here: https://service.purdue.edu/TDClient/32/Purdue/KB/Article/659/How-to-set-up-Microsoft-multi-factor-authentication-MFA

For further assistance with troubleshooting, please contact the Purdue IT Service Desk by clicking on the 'Purdue IT Request' button associated with this article.
 

If you are not receiving push notifications until you open the Microsoft Authenticator app, check device specific settings:

 

Android Users  

 

Follow these steps to ensure Microsoft Authenticator can receive push notifications: 

 

Step 1: Disable Battery Optimization (MOST IMPORTANT) 

  1. Open Settings 

  1. Go to Apps (or Apps & notifications) 

  1. Tap Microsoft Authenticator 

  1. Select Battery 

  1. Choose:  Unrestricted (or “Don’t optimize”) 

 

Step 2: Allow Background Activity 

  1. Open Settings 

  1. Go to Apps → Microsoft Authenticator 

  1. Tap Battery or App battery usage 

  1. Ensure:  Allow background activity is ON 

 

Step 3: Enable Background Data 

  1. Open Settings 

  1. Go to Apps → Microsoft Authenticator 

  1. Tap Mobile data & Wi-Fi (or Data usage) 

  1. Ensure:  Allow background data usage is ON and/or Unrestricted data usage is ON (if available) 

 

Step 5: Check Data Saver (or Allowlist Authenticator) 

 

  1. Open Settings 

  1. Go to Network & Internet → Data Saver 

  1. Either:  

    1. Turn Data Saver OFF, OR 

    2. Add Microsoft Authenticator as an exception 

 

Step 6: Verify Notifications are enabled 

  1. Open Settings 

  1. Go to Apps → Microsoft Authenticator 

  1. Tap Notifications 

    1. Ensure: Notifications are ON & All notification categories are enabled 

 

Note: Settings can vary by phone. See Android documentation for more specific information on Notifications settings: https://support.google.com/android/answer/9079661?hl=en&sjid=16011888932394448427-NA 

 

 

IOS/iPhone Users 

Follow these steps to ensure Microsoft Authenticator can receive push notifications: 

 

Step 1: Turn Off Low Power Mode 

On iPhone 15 and later models: 

  1. Open Settings. 

  1. Tap Battery. 

  1. Tap Power Mode. 

  1. Tap to turn Low Power Mode on or off. 

On iPhone 14 and earlier models: 

  1. Open Settings. 

  1. Tap Battery. 

  1. Tap to turn Low Power Mode on or off. 

See Apple documentation for steps for specific models: https://support.apple.com/en-us/101604  

 

Step 2: Check Focus / Do Not Disturb 

  1. Open Settings 

  1. Tap Focus 

  1. Check active modes (Do Not Disturb, Work, Sleep, etc.) 

  1. Ensure:  

    1. Focus is OFF 

    2. OR Authenticator is allowed:  

      1. Tap the Focus mode → Allow Notifications From → Add App → Microsoft Authenticator 

 

 

For more detailed information, see Apple documentation for Do Not Disturb settings: https://support.apple.com/en-us/105112  

 

Step 3: Enable Background App Refresh 

Open Settings 

  1. Tap General 

  1. Select Background App Refresh 

  1. Ensure:  

    1. Background App Refresh is ON 

    2. Microsoft Authenticator is enabled 

 

Step 4: Verify Notifications are enabled 

  1. Open Settings 

  1. Tap Notifications 

  1. Select Microsoft Authenticator 

  1. Ensure:  

    1. Allow Notifications is ON 

    2. Lock Screen, Notification Center, Banners enabled 

    3. Sounds enabled 

    4. Not set to “Deliver Quietly” 

 

See Apple documentation for more specific information on notifications: https://support.apple.com/en-us/108274 

 

Validation Step (Both Platforms) 

After completing all steps: 

  1. Open the Cisco VPN client or the application you were accessing 

  1. Attempt to sign in to your account 

  1. Confirm:  

    1. Push notification appears immediately 

    2. No fallback to code 

    3. No error message 

 

Still need help?  Click the 'Purdue IT Request' button to start a ticket.

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