To set up the Microsoft Authenticator app
1. Sign in to your work or school account and
then go to your My Account portal.
2. Select Security info in the
left menu or by using the link in the Security info pane. If
you have already registered, you'll be prompted for two-factor verification.
Then, select Add method in the Security info pane.
3. On the Add a method page,
select Authenticator app from the list, and then select Add.
4. On the Start by getting the app page,
select Download now to download and install the Microsoft
Authenticator app on your mobile device, and then select Next. For
more information about how to download and install the app, see Download and install the Microsoft
Authenticator app.
§ If you want to use an authenticator app other
than the Microsoft Authenticator app, select I want to use a different
authenticator app.
§ If your organization lets you choose a
different method besides the authenticator app, you can select I want
to set up a different method.
5. Remain on the Set up your account page
while you set up the Microsoft Authenticator app on your mobile device.
6. Open the Microsoft Authenticator app, select
to allow notifications (if prompted), select Add account from
the Customize and control icon on the upper-right, and then
select Work or school account.
Note: The
first time you set up the Microsoft Authenticator app, you might
receive a prompt asking whether to allow the app to access your camera (iOS) or
to allow the app to take pictures and record video (Android). You must
select Allow so the authenticator app can access your camera
to take a picture of the QR code in the next step. If you don't allow the
camera, you can still set up the authenticator app, but you'll need to add the
code information manually. For information about how to add the code manually,
see see Manually add an account to the app.
7. Return to the Set up your account page
on your computer, and then select Next. The Scan the QR
code page appears.
8. Scan the provided code with the Microsoft
Authenticator app QR code reader, which appeared on your mobile device after
you created your work or school account in Step 6.
9. The authenticator app should successfully add your
work or school account without requiring any additional information from you.
However, if the QR code reader can't read the code, you can select Can't
scan the QR code and manually enter the code and URL into the
Microsoft Authenticator app. For more information about manually adding a code,
see Manually add an account to the app.
10. Select Next on the Scan
the QR code page on your computer. A notification is sent to the
Microsoft Authenticator app on your mobile device, to test your account.
11. Approve the notification in the Microsoft
Authenticator app, and then select Next. Your security info is
updated to use the Microsoft Authenticator app by default to verify your
identity when using two-step verification or password reset.
