The “Microsoft Authenticator for Apple Watch” app will be discontinued in January 2023. Recently, Microsoft announced the removal of its popular two-factor verification app from the watchOS App Store on its support page.
In 2018, the Microsoft Authenticator for Apple Watch app was launched on iOS and Android. It allows smartwatch users to quickly authenticate and sign-in accounts by sending notifications with an easy tap to approve or decline the verification method instead of entering a six-digit code. The app also supports automatic synchronization across devices.
The Microsoft Authenticator app on Apple Watch supports Microsoft personal, work, and school accounts that are set up with push notifications. All supported accounts automatically sync to the Watch.
Microsoft Authenticator for Apple Watch will not be available because of its security features
As per the information on the webpage, the Microsoft Authenticator for Apple Watch will not be available after the app’s update coming in January because watchOS does not support its security features.
Apple Watch support
Q: Is Apple Watch supported for Authenticator on iOS?A: 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. We therefore recommend that you delete Authenticator from your Apple Watch. This change only impacts Apple Watch, so you will still be able to use Authenticator on your other devices.
The document also mentions that Apple Watch does not support a few of the app’s notifications like number matching, Location-based access notifications for enterprise accounts, and passwordless sign-in for enterprise accounts. And to authenticate those requests, users have to open the app on their iPhones.
After the new update, the app will still be available on iOS but not on watchOS. Therefore, Apple Watch users are advised to delete it from their smartwatches.
Recently, it was also reported that Microsoft was planning on developing a “super app” for iPhone which would offer a variety of services like messaging, shopping, news, and more to challenge Apple and Google’s domination in the mobile search market.
