What Approved Sign Code Does and How to Turn It Off

Approved Sign Code (also called Advanced Sign Code or Approved Signing) is a Microsoft security feature that requires you to approve sign-in attempts on your account from new devices or locations. When you turn it on, Microsoft sends you a notification — usually to your phone or another trusted device — asking you to confirm that you're the one trying to log in. If you want to stop using this feature, you can disable it in your Microsoft account security settings.

The process takes about two minutes and requires you to be signed into your Microsoft account. You'll need access to the email address or phone number associated with your account, because Microsoft may ask you to verify your identity before allowing the change.

Key Takeaways

  • Approved Sign Code is turned on or off in your Microsoft account security settings, not in Outlook or other email apps.
  • You must be signed into your Microsoft account online to change this setting.
  • Disabling Approved Sign Code means you won't receive approval requests, but you may be asked for a password or two-factor code instead.
  • If you've lost access to your phone or trusted device, you can still disable Approved Sign Code by verifying your identity with a backup email or phone number.

Steps to Disable Approved Sign Code in Your Account Settings

Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with your email and password. Once you're signed in, look for the Security tab on the left side of the page. Click it to open your security options.

Find the section labeled Advanced Security Options or Additional Security Options (the exact name varies by account). Look for an entry that says Approval Requests, Approved Sign Code, or Advanced Sign Code. Click on it to open the settings for that feature.

You'll see a toggle or button that says On or Enabled. Click it to turn the feature off. Microsoft may ask you to confirm your identity by sending a code to your phone or email. Enter that code when prompted, and the setting will be disabled.

Once you've turned it off, sign out and sign back in to confirm the change took effect. You should no longer see approval requests when you log in from a new device or location.

What Happens After You Disable Approved Sign Code

Disabling Approved Sign Code does not remove all security checks from your account. Instead, Microsoft will fall back to other verification methods. The most common is a two-factor authentication code — a six-digit number sent to your phone or email when you sign in from an unfamiliar device.

If you have two-factor authentication turned off as well, Microsoft may simply ask for your password. This is less secure than having some form of verification in place, so consider whether you want to keep two-factor codes enabled even if you disable Approved Sign Code.

You can check what other security features are active on your account by staying in the Advanced Security Options section. Look for entries like Two-Step Verification, Security Info, or Password-less Sign-In.

If You Can't Access Your Trusted Device or Phone

If you've lost the phone or device that receives your approval requests, you may not be able to approve the sign-in needed to reach your account settings. In this case, Microsoft offers a recovery process. Go to account.microsoft.com/security and select I Can't Sign In or Verify Your Identity.

Microsoft will ask you to verify who you are using a backup email address, phone number, or security questions you set up earlier. Once you've verified your identity, you'll be able to sign in and disable Approved Sign Code from your security settings.

If you don't have a backup email or phone number on file, you may need to contact Microsoft Support directly. Have your account email, a phone number associated with the account, and any other identifying information ready when you reach out.

Turning Approved Sign Code Back On Later

If you decide later that you want to use Approved Sign Code again, the process is the same. Go to account.microsoft.com, open Security, find Advanced Security Options, locate Approved Sign Code, and toggle it back on.

When you turn it back on, Microsoft will ask you to choose which device or phone number should receive the approval requests. Select the device you use most often, or add a new one if your phone has changed since you last used this feature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling Approved Sign Code make my account less secure?

It depends on what you replace it with. If you keep two-factor authentication enabled, your account will still have a verification step when you sign in from a new device. If you disable both Approved Sign Code and two-factor authentication, your account relies only on your password, which is less secure.

Can I disable Approved Sign Code for just one device?

No. Approved Sign Code is an account-wide setting — it's either on for all devices or off for all devices. If you want to stop receiving requests on a specific device, you can mark that device as trusted in your account settings, and it won't ask for approval the next time you sign in from it.

What if I don't recognize the sign-in attempt that triggered the approval request?

Do not approve it. Tap Deny or I Didn't Try to Sign In on the notification. Then go to your account security settings and change your password. This helps protect your account if someone else is trying to access it.

How long does an approval request stay active?

Approval requests typically expire after 15 minutes. If you don't respond within that time, the sign-in attempt will be blocked and you'll need to try again. You'll receive a new approval request when you do.