Set Up MFA Verification for O365 using the Microsoft Authenticator App


In addition to using text message and/or phone call to authenticate your Office 365 account, you can also utilize the Microsoft Authenticator app to provides an alternate means of satisfying the MultiFactor Authentication (MFA) requirement.

To utilize the Microsoft Authenticator, you’ll first need to download and install it from either the iTunes Store (iPhone) or from the Google Play Store (Android). Once you have the application installed, the icon will appear as follows:

If you’ve confirmed that the application is installed and running, you can proceed to the setup steps below.

Step 1.) Login to login.microsoftonline.com 


Step 2.) Click on the Icon for your User Account, found at the top-right hand corner once you’re logged in.


Step 3.) Select, “My Account”

Step 4.) Select, “Security & Privacy”

Step 5 and 6.) Select, “Additional security verification” and then select, “Update your phone numbers used for account security.”



Step 7 and 8.) Check the box for “Authenticator app or Token” and then press “Set up Authenticator app.”

 

Step 9, 10, and 11.) Open the Microsoft Authenticator App on your phone, click the “+” sign found in the top right, and then select “Work or school account.” Then scan the image from the Microsoft webpage. Click “Next” once you’re done. Allow for the app to become verified. You will be prompted to verify this on your mobile device. Once this is done, you will be informed that Updates have been applied successfully.






(Optional but Recommended): To take this one step further, you can also enable phone sign in, which will simply prompt you to authenticate via the Microsoft Authenticator app, and you will not have to enter anything in on the webpage.

Step 12.) Click the down arrow in the top right corner of your newly added “Azure AD” account in the Microsoft Authenticator, and then select “Enable Phone sign-in”


Step 13.) Click “Continue” on the next screen, and then enter your Windows password, as if you were logging in to the login.microsoftonline.com site. You will then be prompted to “Approve sign-in?” as a final step. This will then prompt you via app to approve sign in on the Microsoft site.