Microsoft Authenticator joins the slowly growing list of apps removing their Apple Watch companion app, following a Monday update on the App Store.
What’s New
Version 6.7.3
This update removes Microsoft Authenticator from Apple Watch. In your Apple Watch notification settings, you can still choose to mirror iPhone alerts from Authenticator to your Apple Watch.
The Microsoft Authenticator for iOS app is primarily used for confirming sign-ins into accounts with two-factor authentication turned on and gained an Apple Watch companion app in 2018. Microsoft previously announced that the Apple Watch app would be discontinued in early 2023.
Microsoft documented the change to the iOS app in an updated FAQ webpage.
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.
As noted by MacRumors, the Microsoft Authenticator app for Apple Watch joins a growing list of third-party watchOS apps that have been discontinued over the last few years. Other iPhone apps with Apple Watch apps that have been discontinued include Twitter, Instagram, Target, Trello, Slack, Hulu, and Uber.