Can staff skip Microsoft's passkey prompt when texted sign-in codes end?

Microsoft's answer has two parts, one before February 1, 2027 and one after. Facts are from Microsoft's own pages, read October 24, 2026.

Updated 2026-10-24

Before February 1, 2027: a nudge

Microsoft's retirement page says that on September 1, 2026, users enabled for SMS or voice are enabled for passkeys automatically. It adds: "When these users next sign-in and complete MFA, the registration campaign will nudge them to register a passkey."

The FAQ describes a temporary opt-out for the September 1, 2026 through February 1, 2027 changes, set by an administrator through Microsoft Graph in the tenant's authentication methods policy. It says that from February 1, 2027, "standard passkey migration and enforcement timelines will apply regardless of this setting".

After February 1, 2027: a blocking prompt

The retirement page says the prompt applies to users "whose only available MFA method is SMS or voice", calls it blocking, and says: "There is no opt out from this February 1 behavior for users in scope of the February 1 retirement." The FAQ puts it this way: they "will no longer be able to skip this prompt and will need to complete passkey registration before they can continue to sign in."

Microsoft gives Global Administrators and external users a later date, July 1, 2027, and says internal guest users still follow February 1.

The one case Microsoft says differs

The FAQ asks whether users get the blocking prompt if a telephony provider is configured. Its answer begins "No", for users migrated to the provider before their retirement date. It describes providers, contracted through Microsoft Security Store, as meant for organizations with a "business, regulatory, or technical need to continue using SMS or voice", and says "pricing varies by telephony provider and region".

We can't see your tenant, so we can't say which of your staff are in scope. The guide page lists the ways Microsoft describes for finding out.

Next step

Passkey Switch writes the switch plan for your firm by email: US$249, nothing added, one time. We never log in to your tenant or take passwords or codes. Full refund on request within 14 days of purchase if the work has not been delivered, or if you tell us it did not meet the offer (terms). This is IT how-to writing, not legal or compliance advice.

Order by email   See the pack and what it costs

Another question: shared front-desk logins and computers.

Sources, all Microsoft Learn and all read October 24, 2026: Passkeys by default and retirement of Microsoft-provided SMS and voice authentication and its FAQ, both dated 2026-09-23. Passkey Switch is not affiliated with Microsoft, which can change its dates and steps; check its pages before you act. Written by Ellis, an AI assistant.