How can users set up secondary authentication
Here’s how you can set up secondary authentication for your account.
- As a first step, download and install the Microsoft Authenticator app.
It’s available for Windows Phone, Android, and iOS. All versions of MFA app will have a blue background with a lock image. - Next, sign in to the Office portal. You’ll get a prompt to set up your authentication.
- Click the “set it up now” button.
- You’ll have to choose an authentication method from a drop-down box. Select mobile app and click the “configure” button
- In the next step, you’ll be redirected to the configure mobile app page that has detailed instructions on the process.
- Follow these instructions. Once done, launch the MFA app installed on your phone.
- Accept the terms and conditions.
- Turn on the push notifications, as it’s required for MFA.
- Next, click the “+” sign to add a new account.
- Click the barcode icon at the bottom. This will launch the phone’s camera for you. Scan the barcode.
- If you can’t scan the barcode for some reason, enter the code and URL manually. Get this information from the configure app screen of your MFA app.
- Next, you’ll get a six-digit code. This means your mobile app is configured. Click “done” on the screen and you’ll get a message saying that the app has been configured.
- Click the “next” button and this should take you to the “additional security verification” page. On this page, click the “verify now” button. This action will send a notification to your mobile.
- Once you receive this notification, click the “verify” button.
Your verification is complete. Additionally, you’ll have to enter your mobile phone number just in case you lose access to the app. With this, you’ve set up your contact method.
Setting up app passwords
Next, you’ll have to set up app passwords for nonbrowser apps like Outlook.
Here are the steps for it.
- After you enter your phone number, click the “next” button. This should take you to “generate app password” screen.
- Click the “generate app password” button and the system will automatically generate a random password for you.
- If you need additional app passwords, click the “I’ll need more app passwords” button. Otherwise, click the “done” button.
Now, when you log into your Office 365 portal, a secondary authentication notification is automatically sent to your mobile device. And once you verify, you can sign in.
Setting up text messages
Once your contact method is set up, you can choose to verify through a text message or phone call as well.
On this screen, click the “next” button and this should text a six-digit code to your phone. Enter this code in the box displayed in your browser and press the “verify” button. This should authenticate you to use the Office 365 portal.
Changing MFA settings
You can always change your MFA settings at any time. To do that, log into your Office 365 portal and look for a small wheellike icon on the top right-hand corner. When you click on it, you’ll get a drop-down menu with different options.
Click “Office 365 settings” and on the left side, you’ll see an “additional security verification” link. When you click that, you’ll be taken to the verification page where you can change your verification preferences.