Microsoft Authenticator is ending support for the Apple Watch. Unfortunately, this means you can no longer easily log into your connected accounts using just the wearable, as reported through earlier MacRumors.
While the apps 6.7.3 iOS update states that it “removes Microsoft Authenticator from Apple Watch,” it also notes that you can still mirror any Microsoft Authenticator notifications you receive on your iPhone to your Apple Watch.
Microsoft first introduced Authenticator for the Apple Watch in 2018, and it’s proven useful for anyone looking to streamline their multi-factor authentication (MFA) logins. Instead of having to open the Microsoft Authenticator app on your phone to verify your identity, you can instead approve the sign-in via a notification that appears on your watch.
We first heard about the closure in December, after Microsoft quietly updated its FAQ page to note that you cannot install or use Authenticator on Apple Watch. It’s unclear why Microsoft is choosing to drop support for the Apple Watch now, vaguely stating that watchOS is “not compatible with Authenticator security features.”
Over the course of a number of years, watchOS has lost a number of notable apps, including pokemon go, Uber, Instagram and more, proving that not every service out there needs a presence on your wrist. But of all these apps, the Microsoft Authenticator companion app is perhaps the most practical, and it’s a shame it’s disappearing.
