Summary

This article contains information about the discontinued Microsoft authenticator app for Apple Watch, as of January 2023.

Content

In January 2023, Microsoft has announced that Apple Watch will no longer be compatible with Microsoft M365 (Azure) Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) due to a security update. USNH community members are encouraged to delete the Microsoft Authenticator app from their Apple Watch, as it will stop working in January.

The decision to discontinue Apple Watch support was made to protect against a new form of hacking called MFA fatigue attacks. These attacks are on the rise and Microsoft recorded more than 40,000 MFA fatigue attacks in a single month. In a recent statement, Microsoft announced, "In the upcoming Authenticator release in January 2023 for iOS, there will be no companion app for watchOS due to it being incompatible with Authenticator security features. This means you won’t be able to install or use Authenticator on Apple Watch.” 

Although you will no longer be able to approve or deny login attempts from your Apple Watch, you will still be able to use other iOS devices, like your iPhone or iPad, to manage Azure Microsoft Authenticator notifications.  See instructions for MFA: Installing the Microsoft Authenticator App and jump to the IOS section.  If you already have the Microsoft Authenticator app installed on your iOS device, then see instructions for MFA: Setting up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for M365.

Further Readings

MFA: Installing the Microsoft Authenticator App 

MFA: Setting up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for M365

Hackers use MFA fatigue to bypass multi-factor authentication 

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