MFA: Managing your multi-factor authentication set-up

When setting up multi-factor authentication for the first time, the process guides you through the steps of setting up one particular multi-factor authentication method. It is possible, once you have chosen your first method, to add additional methods and to change your preference on what your default sign-in method you would like to use.

This guide will detail what steps are required to setup additional multi-factor methods, the steps required to remove a method and the steps to change your default sign-in method.

You can also download this guide as a pdf.

Adding a new multi-factor authentication method

1. Go to the Microsoft Account page
2. Click Security Info
3. The security info page will display with the method(s) you can use to sign in to your account
   
   
   

   Screenshot showing the security info page, which will display with the method(s) you can use to sign in to your account

4. Click Add Method
5. Choose the option you would like to add as a further multi-factor authentication method in the drop-down menu
    
   
   

   Screenshot showing the options available to add as a further multi-factor authentication method in the drop-down menu

6. Click Add
    
   
   

   Screenshot showing "Phone" as the chosen authentication method to add

   Note: There are multiple methods for multi-factor authentication, for which there are specific guides.
   For further information on how to set up a specific method please go back to the main MFA: Help and guidance page and read the appropriate guidance.

7. Follow the instructions for setting up each method
8. When the set-up is complete the new method will appear in the security info page
    
   
   

   Screenshot showing the authentication methods you have added in the security info page

9. To add further methods, return to step 4 of this guide and add additional methods

Deleting a multi-factor authentication method

1. Go to the Microsoft Account page
2. Click Security Info
3. The security info page will display with the method(s) you can use to sign in to your account
   
   
   

   Screenshot showing the authentication methods you have added in the security info page

4. Find the method that you want to delete
5. Click Delete
6. A confirmation message appears asking if you are sure that you want to delete that method
    
   
   

   Screenshot of the confirmation message that appears asking if you are sure that you want to delete that method

7. Click OK
8. A green confirmation message will appear in the top right corner advising that the method has been deleted
9. The Security info page will no longer display the deleted method

Note: If the method you delete is your default sign-in method, the system will automatically change the default method to the next available method

Amending your default sign-in method

1. Go to the Microsoft Account page
2. Click Security Info
3. The security info page will display with the method(s) you can use to sign in to your account. The default sign-in method is displayed above the list of methods
    
   
   

   Screnshot showing that the default sign-in method is displayed above the list of methods

4. Click Change next to the default sign-in method
5. The Change default method drop-down menu will display
    
   
   

   Screenshot showing the default method drop-down menu

6. Open the drop-down menu
   
   
   

   Screenshot showing how to choose "Microsoft Authenticator - notification"

7. Select your preferred default sign-in method
    
   
   

   Screenshot showing the option to select your preferred default sign-in method

8. Click Confirm
9. A green confirmation message will appear in the top right corner advising that the method has been changed
10. The default sign-in method will have changed to your newly preferred method
     
    
    

    Screenshot showing the default sign-in method has changed to your newly preferred method