How to Set Up Microsoft Authenticator for Any Account

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Quickly set up Authenticator for a personal, work, or school account
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Microsoft Authenticator makes it easy to protect your online accounts with two-step verification and passkeys. You can use Authenticator to sign in to your accounts without a password, add a second layer of security to your logins, or use it as an alternate way to sign in to your Microsoft account if you ever lose access. Microsoft Authenticator even works for non-Microsoft accounts like Amazon, Google, and Facebook. In this article, we'll teach you how to set up Microsoft Authenticator on your Android or iPhone and use it to log in to sites and services securely.

Microsoft Authenticator Setup: Fast Facts

  • Use Authenticator for two-step verification for Microsoft accounts (personal, work, and school), as well as non-Microsoft accounts.
  • After installing the Authenticator app on your Android or iPhone, enable two-step verification or passwordless login in your preferred service.
  • To add an account, tap + in the app, select an account type, and then scan the QR code.
Section 1 of 6:

Set Up Authenticator for Your Microsoft Account

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  1. Step 1 Install the Microsoft Authenticator app on your phone.
    If you want to use Microsoft Authenticator as an added security measure for signing in to your Microsoft account, you'll need to install the Android or iPhone app on your phone. You can download Microsoft Authenticator from the Play Store for Android, and from the App Store for iPhone/iPad.[1]
  2. 2
    Log in to your Microsoft account's advanced security settings. To get there, follow this link, then log in with your Microsoft account when prompted.[2]
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  3. 3
    Choose how you want to use the authenticator. There are three ways you can use Microsoft Authenticator to secure your personal Microsoft account:[3]
    • As an alternative sign-in option: If you want to add Microsoft Authenticator as an optional sign-in method in case you lose your password, select + Add a new way to sign in or verify.
    • For two-step verification: If you want to use Authenticator for two-step verification, which means you'll need to use the Authenticator app every time you log in to your Microsoft account, click Turn On under "Two-step verification".[4]
      • This is the most common way to use Microsoft Authenticator.
    • Passwordless login: To skip entering a password when logging in to your Microsoft account, and instead verify each login using your phone, scroll down and enable "Passwordless Account."
  4. 4
    Complete the Microsoft Authenticator setup. The remaining steps will be a little different depending on how you're using Authenticator:
    • As an alternative sign-in option:
      • After choosing + Add a new way to sign in or verify, select Use an app.
      • If you've already installed the Authenticator app on your mobile device, choose Set up a different authenticator app, then tap Next.
        • If you haven't installed the app yet, tap Get it now, and follow the on-screen instructions.
      • Open Microsoft Authenticator on your phone and tap +.
      • Choose Personal Account > Scan a QR code, then scan the code with your device.
    • For two-step verification:
      • After turning on the feature, click Next, and follow the on-screen instructions. During the setup process, you will be given recovery codes, which you'll need to keep somewhere safe in case you ever lose access to your phone.
    • For passwordless login:
      • When you enable the feature, you'll be prompted to click Next, then verify your account.
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Section 2 of 6:

Set Up Authenticator for a Work or School Account

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  1. 1
    Install the Microsoft Authenticator app on your mobile phone. If your employer or school provided you with a Microsoft account, you can use this method to set up Microsoft Authenticator. You can download Microsoft Authenticator from the Play Store for Android, and from the App Store for iPhone/iPad.[5]
  2. 2
    Sign in to your Security settings on your Microsoft Dashboard. To do so, go to this login page, then enter your login credentials for your work or school account.
    • If, after signing in, you don't see a page called "Security info," click Additional security verification, check the box next to "Authenticator app," then click Configure. Then, follow the on-screen instructions to scan the QR code.
  3. 3
    Click + Add sign-in method. This allows you to add Authenticator as a login option.
  4. 4
    Select "Microsoft Authenticator" from the menu and click Add. You'll be prompted to install Authenticator if you haven't already done so.[6]
  5. 5
    Click Next to display the QR code. At this point, you'll complete the remaining steps on your phone.
  6. 6
    Open Microsoft Authenticator and tap + > Add account. A list of account types will appear.
  7. 7
    Select Work or school account > Scan a QR Code. This opens the camera in the Microsoft Authenticator app.
    • If you are unable to use your phone to scan a QR code (common if you work for the government), select Sign in with your credentials instead, then follow the on-screen instructions to log in.
  8. 8
    Use your phone to scan the QR code on the screen. Once the code is scanned, Microsoft Authenticator will walk you through the final account setup steps.[7]
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Section 3 of 6:

Set Up Authenticator for Other Accounts

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  1. Step 1 Install the Microsoft Authenticator app on your phone.
    If you want to log in to a service that supports Microsoft Authenticator for two-step verification, this method will help you set it up. You can download Microsoft Authenticator from the Play Store for Android, and from the App Store for iPhone/iPad.
  2. 2
    Enable two-step verification on your preferred account. Once you have Microsoft Authenticator, you'll need to enable two-step verification in the account settings of the service you want to log into. Look for a "password," "sign-in," or "security" area in your settings–you should see the option there.[8]
    • Some common services that support two-step verification with Microsoft Authenticator include Facebook, Amazon, and Google.
    • When prompted, choose the option to use an Authenticator app. This process will ultimately display a QR code for you to scan with Microsoft Authenticator.[9]
  3. 3
    Open Microsoft Authenticator and tap + > Add account. A list of account types will appear.
  4. 4
    Select Other Account. At this point, if you're prompted to give the app permission to access your phone's camera, follow the on-screen instructions to do so.
  5. 5
    Use your phone to scan the QR code. Once scanned, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.
    • Depending on the service you're setting up two-step verification for, there may be additional steps to complete on your computer.
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Section 4 of 6:

Using Microsoft Authenticator to Sign In

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  1. 1
    Log in to the site or service. For example, if you're using Microsoft Authenticator to log in to your Gmail account, log in to Gmail on any device by entering your username and password.[10]
    • Once your username and password are authenticated, you will be prompted to complete an additional step to log in.
    • If you're using passwordless sign-in, you will be prompted to enter a code instead of your password.
  2. 2
    Select the option to sign in with Microsoft Authenticator. If you're signing in to a Microsoft account, select Send notification. If not, you may need to choose a similar option, or you may be asked to enter a code.[11]
    • You may need to select Other ways to sign in, followed by Approve a request on my Microsoft Authenticator app.
  3. 3
    Open Microsoft Authenticator on your phone. This will display a list of accounts you've added to Microsoft Authenticator.
    • If you're signing in to a Microsoft account and sent a notification to your phone, you can tap the notification on your phone to approve the sign-in.
  4. 4
    Verify your login. There are a few different options for logging in with Authenticator:
    • You may see a numeric code in the app or service you're signing in to. If you do, open Authenticator (or tap the notification), select the correct number from the options, then tap Approve.
    • For other sites, you'll need to enter a one-time code generated by Microsoft Authenticator. To copy the code, tap it in the app. If you're signing in on a computer, simply type the code into the service you're logging into.
      • The code refreshes every 30 seconds. If you don't enter the code quickly enough, a new code will be generated, and you'll need to enter that one instead.[12]
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Section 5 of 6:

Backing Up Microsoft Authenticator

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  1. 1
    iPhone Microsoft Authenticator backs up to iCloud, which makes it easy to restore if you ever get a new phone or need to factory reset your current phone. To enable backups:[13]
    • Make sure iCloud Drive is enabled.[14]
      • In your iPhone's Settings app, tap your name at the top.
      • Select iCloud.
      • Tap Drive.
      • Toggle on "Sync this iPhone" if it's turned off.
      • Tap the back button and select Passwords.
      • If "Sync this iPhone" is off, turn it on.
    • Open the Microsoft Authenticator app.[15]
    • Tap ☰ and select Settings.
    • Toggle on "iCloud Backup."
  2. 2
    Android To make sure you can easily access your Authenticator codes if you get a new phone, you'll want to enable backups to the cloud. Fortunately, this is easy to do in your Microsoft Authenticator app settings:[16]
    • Open Authenticator and tap the menu ⋮.
    • Tap Settings.
    • Toggle on "Cloud backup."
    • Select your Microsoft account.
    • Tap OK.
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Section 6 of 6:

Transferring Microsoft Authenticator to a New Phone

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  1. If you get a new phone, just download the Authenticator app and sign in.
    As long as you enabled backups and are signed in with the same iCloud or Google account you backed your data up to, you can easily restore Authenticator on the new phone. Just open Authenticator on the new phone, and any accounts with one-time passwords will be restored. For passwordless sign-in accounts, tap Sign In on the account, and log in to the account to restore it.[17]
    • If you don't have access to the iCloud, Google, or Microsoft account you were using with Authenticator on your old phone, you won't be able to restore Authenticator until you restore that account.
    • If you still have your old device, you'll want to remove it from Authenticator after you restore your accounts on your new phone. Otherwise, codes and notifications may be sent to the wrong device.[18]
      • To remove an account from Authenticator, tap the account you want to remove, tap the gear icon, then tap Remove Account.[19]

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References

  1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/how-to-add-your-accounts-to-microsoft-authenticator-92544b53-7706-4581-a142-30344a2a2a57#id0ebd=signinmsa
  2. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/how-to-add-your-accounts-to-microsoft-authenticator-92544b53-7706-4581-a142-30344a2a2a57#id0ebd=signinmsa
  3. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/how-to-add-your-accounts-to-microsoft-authenticator-92544b53-7706-4581-a142-30344a2a2a57#id0ebd=signinmsa
  4. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/how-to-use-two-step-verification-with-your-microsoft-account-c7910146-672f-01e9-50a0-93b4585e7eb4
  5. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/how-to-add-your-accounts-to-microsoft-authenticator-92544b53-7706-4581-a142-30344a2a2a57#id0ebd=signinorgid
  6. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/how-to-add-your-accounts-to-microsoft-authenticator-92544b53-7706-4581-a142-30344a2a2a57#id0ebd=signinorgid
  7. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/how-to-add-your-accounts-to-microsoft-authenticator-92544b53-7706-4581-a142-30344a2a2a57#id0ebd=signinorgid
  8. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/how-to-add-your-accounts-to-microsoft-authenticator-92544b53-7706-4581-a142-30344a2a2a57#id0ebd=non-microsoft_accounts
  9. ↑ https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=G3PWZPU52FKN7PW4
  1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/sign-in-using-microsoft-authenticator-582bdc07-4566-4c97-a7aa-56058122714c
  2. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/sign-in-using-microsoft-authenticator-582bdc07-4566-4c97-a7aa-56058122714c
  3. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/back-up-your-accounts-in-microsoft-authenticator-bb939936-7a8d-4e88-bc43-49bc1a700a40
  4. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/back-up-your-accounts-in-microsoft-authenticator-bb939936-7a8d-4e88-bc43-49bc1a700a40
  5. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/icloud/set-up-icloud-drive-mm203b05aec8/icloud
  6. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/back-up-your-accounts-in-microsoft-authenticator-bb939936-7a8d-4e88-bc43-49bc1a700a40
  7. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/back-up-your-accounts-in-microsoft-authenticator-bb939936-7a8d-4e88-bc43-49bc1a700a40#id0ebbf=android
  8. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/restore-account-credentials-from-microsoft-authenticator-ce53096e-1e1c-4840-9e32-1618bc33cd43
  9. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/microsoft-authenticator-faqs-12d283d1-bcef-4875-9ae5-ac360e2945dd
  10. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/how-to-sign-out-from-authenticator-c3ff49e6-e172-4134-abeb-ced28a0ed8c3
  11. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/microsoft-authenticator-faqs-12d283d1-bcef-4875-9ae5-ac360e2945dd
  12. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/troubleshoot-problems-with-microsoft-authenticator-a3a74493-566b-4c2e-b949-a2789bac0fd3

About This Article

Stan Kats
Reviewed by:
Stan Kats
Professional Technologist
This article was reviewed by Stan Kats and by wikiHow staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA. Stan Kats is a Professional Technologist and the COO and Chief Technologist for The STG IT Consulting Group in West Hollywood, California. Stan provides comprehensive technology solutions to businesses through managed IT services, and for individuals through his consumer service business, Stan's Tech Garage. Stan holds a BA in International Relations from The University of Southern California. He began his career working in the Fortune 500 IT world. Stan founded his companies to offer an enterprise-level of expertise for small businesses and individuals. This article has been viewed 3,291 times.
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