Microsoft Authenticator App to discontinue Apple Watch Support

Microsoft has announced that its two-step verification app "Microsoft Authenticator" will no longer support the Apple Watch as it will discontinue the app soon.  

In a support webpage, Microsoft revealed that an update coming to the Microsoft Authenticator iOS app in January 2023 will remove the companion app from watchOS, the operating system of the Apple Watch. As a result, Apple Watch users will no longer be able to access the service through the device.

With Microsoft Authenticator, users can easily sign in to their Microsoft account or supported apps when two-step verification is enabled. The app also generates one-time use codes so that users do not have to wait for text messages or calls to access their accounts.

The company claims that the decision to discontinue the watchOS app is due to the fact that the Apple Watch operating system is “incompatible with Authenticator security features”. Microsoft also recommends that users who still have Authenticator installed on their Apple Watch delete the app, as it is expected to stop working next month. 
“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,” the company mentioned. 

“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,” it added.  

The Microsoft Authenticator app was introduced for watchOS in 2018. Currently, this app is available on the App Store for free. However, users will need their Apple Watch to run iOS 14 or later to access the app.

It’s worth noting that this update only applies to the watchOS version of the app, so users can still use Microsoft Authenticator on the iPhone and iPad.