Seamless Account Recovery for Passwordless Users in Microsoft Entra Agent

Let’s discuss Seamless Account Recovery for Passwordless Users in Microsoft Entra Agent. On the Microsoft Ignite Event, Microsoft introduced the Account Recovery in Microsoft Entra. This new capability is a security feature is a part of Entra Agent.

Account Recovery helps users regain access to their accounts when they lose all their authentication methods (like phone, hardware token, or backup codes). It’s designed to provide a safe fallback when traditional self‑service password reset (SSPR) isn’t possible, especially for passwordless users.

Account Recovery in Microsoft Entra Agent is relevant for several reasons. As organizations move to passkeys, FIDO2 keys, and other passwordless methods, users often don’t have a fallback password. Account Recovery ensures they aren’t permanently locked out.

It uses third‑party identity verification providers to securely validate the user’s identity and let them re‑enroll MFA method. In this blog post I would like to explain how to set up Account Recovery for Passwordless Users in Entra Portal and its end user Experience.

Microsoft Entra Agent’s Account recovery feature Provides a seamless, self‑service way for end users to regain access without waiting for IT helpdesk intervention. Uses trusted identity verification providers to validate the user before restoring access, reducing the risk of fraudulent recovery.

Practical Impact	Details
End Users	Peace of mind knowing they can recover accounts even if they lose their
Admins	Easier rollout of passwordless

Seamless Account Recovery for Passwordless Users in Microsoft Entra Agent – Table.1

How to Set Account Recovery in Entra Portal

Here I am going to show the demonstration of Account Recovery feature, which is showed on Ignite 2025 Event. Before enabling the feature, ensure users have complete and accurate profile data (name, email, phone, etc.) because identity verification relies on this information. Your tenant is licensed for Microsoft Entra ID features that support Account Recovery.

Sign in to the Microsoft Entra Admin Center
Go to: https://entra.microsoft.com
Navigate to Authentication Methods
Identity > Protection > Authentication Methods > Account Recovery (Preview)

Seamless Account Recovery for Passwordless Users in Microsoft Entra Agent - Fig.1 - Creds to MS — Seamless Account Recovery for Passwordless Users in Microsoft Entra Agent – Fig.1 – Creds to MS

Recovery Mode Tab

Recovery Mode Tab in Account Recovery which is the first tab that shows Evaluation and production. The Evalution Mode Evaluation allows you to test identity verfication without allowing full account recovery.

Identity verification with face check
Safe for testing and evaluation
X Account will not be recovered
Click on the Next Button

Seamless Account Recovery for Passwordless Users in Microsoft Entra Agent - Fig.2 - Creds to MS — Seamless Account Recovery for Passwordless Users in Microsoft Entra Agent – Fig.2 – Creds to MS

User Group Selection

User Group selection is the next step on Account Recovery. To select the group click on the Include section and select necesary group. Click on the Remove button if needed. Click on the Next button

Seamless Account Recovery for Passwordless Users in Microsoft Entra Agent - Fig.3 - Creds to MS — Seamless Account Recovery for Passwordless Users in Microsoft Entra Agent – Fig.3 – Creds to MS

Identity Verification Providers

Deploy secure reusable digital credentials with AU10TIX Identity Verification Natively integrated into Microsoft Entra instant setup global Coverage and AI-powered fraud prevention trusted. Click on the Microsoft Secure Store option and clcik on the Next button.

Seamless Account Recovery for Passwordless Users in Microsoft Entra Agent - Fig.4 - Creds to MS — Seamless Account Recovery for Passwordless Users in Microsoft Entra Agent – Fig.4 – Creds to MS

Review and Finalize

After that you can review and Finalize the Account Recovery. Here Evalution mode is selected Here Evalution is reviewesd and finalized. Click on the Complete button to create the Recovery Account.

Seamless Account Recovery for Passwordless Users in Microsoft Entra Agent - Fig.5 - Creds to MS — Seamless Account Recovery for Passwordless Users in Microsoft Entra Agent – Fig.5 – Creds to MS

After clicking on the complete button, setup is saved and its notification can be seen on the Entra Portal. Here you can see Account Recovery Provisioned.

Seamless Account Recovery for Passwordless Users in Microsoft Entra Agent - Fig.6 - Creds to MS — Seamless Account Recovery for Passwordless Users in Microsoft Entra Agent – Fig.6 – Creds to MS

End User Experience of Account Recovery for Passwordless Users

Let’s go through the Account Recovery End user Scenario. If a user lost his phone, and it had device-bound passkeys on it. Here going to recover with your account. Click on the Use Temporary Access Pass. Then click on the Next button on the next window.

Seamless Account Recovery for Passwordless Users in Microsoft Entra Agent - Fig.7 - Creds to MS — Seamless Account Recovery for Passwordless Users in Microsoft Entra Agent – Fig.7 – Creds to MS

Then here going to redirect the account and over to the partner. Click on the Let’s begin button. Then you can that preparing of documents before the process. Click on the Start button.

Seamless Account Recovery for Passwordless Users in Microsoft Entra Agent - Fig.8 - Creds to MS — Seamless Account Recovery for Passwordless Users in Microsoft Entra Agent – Fig.8 – Creds to MS

Then you can Scan the QR code directly with the camera on your Mobile Device. The seconf image shows the QR code is scanned.

Seamless Account Recovery for Passwordless Users in Microsoft Entra Agent - Fig.9 - Creds to MS — Seamless Account Recovery for Passwordless Users in Microsoft Entra Agent – Fig.9 – Creds to MS

Seamless Account Recovery for Passwordless Users in Microsoft Entra Agent - Fig.10 - Creds to MS — Seamless Account Recovery for Passwordless Users in Microsoft Entra Agent – Fig.10 – Creds to MS

Need Further Assistance or Have Technical Questions?

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Author

Anoop C Nair has been Microsoft MVP from 2015 onwards for 10 consecutive years! He is a Workplace Solution Architect with more than 22+ years of experience in Workplace technologies. He is also a Blogger, Speaker, and Local User Group Community leader. His primary focus is on Device Management technologies like SCCM and Intune. He writes about technologies like Intune, SCCM, Windows, Cloud PC, Windows, Entra, Microsoft Security, Career, etc.

Written by

Anoop C Nair

Anoop C Nair is Workplace Technology solution architect with 25+ years of experience in global enterprise organizations such as JP Morgan, Capgemini, etc. Microsoft Certified Trainer. Microsoft MVP from 2015 onwards for consecutive 11+ years! He also conducts Intune and modern workplace tech training for enterprise organizations. He is Blogger, Speaker, and Founder of HTMD Community and HTMD Conference. His main focus is on Device Management technologies like Intune, Windows, Cloud PC. He writes about technologies like Intune, SCCM, Windows, Cloud PC, Windows, Entra, Microsoft Security.

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Seamless Account Recovery for Passwordless Users in Microsoft Entra Agent

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