I cant get MS authenticator to work to sign into my new Del 16 Plus Laptop for work with my outlook account.

Based on the symptoms (“Authentication did not complete” after scanning the QR code and entering the PIN in Microsoft Authenticator), the sign-in is failing at the passkey/MFA step rather than the QR scan itself.

Work through these checks in order on the iPhone and laptop:

1. Confirm Authenticator is unlocked
   • Before scanning the QR code, open Microsoft Authenticator on the iPhone and make sure it is fully unlocked (Face ID/Touch ID/PIN already entered).
   • If the app is locked when the prompt comes in, the entry box or confirmation step may not complete and will cause the “cannot complete”/“Authentication did not complete” behavior.
2. Check notifications and silent mode
   • On the iPhone, ensure notifications are enabled for Microsoft Authenticator:
     • In iOS Settings → Notifications → Authenticator → allow notifications, sounds, and banners.
   • Make sure Focus/Do Not Disturb is off and that notifications are not being delivered silently. Silent or blocked notifications can prevent the approval step from completing.
3. Verify Authenticator app version
   • In Microsoft Authenticator → Settings, confirm App updates are turned on and that the app is the latest version.
   • Out-of-date versions can cause sign-in and QR/passkey flows to fail.
4. Check network connectivity
   • Ensure both the laptop and the iPhone are connected to the internet.
   • If the iPhone is on mobile data, briefly switch to Wi‑Fi (or vice versa) and try again. Network disruptions can cause the “Authentication did not complete” error.
5. Verify device date and time
   • On the iPhone, ensure Date & Time are set correctly (preferably “Set Automatically”).
   • Incorrect time can break authentication flows.
6. Try an alternate sign-in method if available
   • On the laptop sign-in screen, choose “Sign in another way” (if shown) and use a different MFA method (SMS, call, or another passkey) to get in once.
   • After signing in, review the account’s passkeys and remove any that no longer apply, then recreate the passkey for this laptop.
7. If the message is specifically “Authentication did not complete”
   • This message is explicitly associated with:
     • Locked app
     • Silent/disabled notifications
     • Outdated app
     • Network issues
     • Incorrect device time
   • Re-test after each change above.
8. If multiple attempts are blocked
   • If there have been many failed attempts, Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication may temporarily block further sign-ins as a protection measure. Wait and then try again, or use a different MFA method if offered.
   • If this is a work account, the organization’s IT admin can review Entra sign-in logs and MFA configuration to see if any policies are blocking passkey/Bluetooth-based authentication on these new laptops.

If, after these steps, the QR/passkey flow still fails on both laptops, escalate to the organization’s IT/Entra administrator to:

• Check whether passkey/Bluetooth-based authentication is allowed by policy for these devices.
• Review sign-in logs for the affected users at the time of failure.
• Temporarily require re-registration of MFA and reconfigure the methods.

References:

• Troubleshoot problems with Microsoft Authenticator
• Authentication did not complete
• Common problems with two-step verification for a work or school account
• Troubleshoot signing in with a passkey