MFA: Setting up the mobile app

This page will show you how to set up the mobile app to send notifications or a code which will act as your multi-factor authentication method.

Video guide: Setting up MFA using the Microsoft Authenticator app

Setting up MFA using the Microsoft Authenticator app

1. Go to My Sign-Ins
2. Select your account
    
   
   

   Select your account

3. Enter your Single Sign-On (SSO) password
4. Click Next on the ‘More information is required’ screen
    
   
   

   More info required screen

   Before you can add your account, you must download and install the MS Authenticator app on your device

5. Click Next
    
   
   

   Get the MS authenticator app

   This is the area where you set up how the system will contact you when you need to provide a second authentication method. You can set up an authenticator app to send a notification or a code to your mobile device as your security verification method. The first part of this guide describes the processes involved to set up the Microsoft Authenticator App.

   Please navigate to the next section on Setting up multi-factor authentication on a different authenticator app for the process on how to set-up a different authenticator app.

6. Open the MS Authenticator app on your phone. If prompted, allow notifications in the app
7. Click Add account
8. Select Work or school Account
   
   
   

   Add account - choose work or school account.

9. Select the option to 'Scan a QR code'. A QR code scanner will appear on your phone screen
10. Click Next on the Set up your account screen
     
    
    

    Click next on set up your account screen

11. Scan the QR code displayed using your phone. If the QR code cannot be scanned, select Or enter the code manually and go to step 12, otherwise go to step 14
12. Go back to ‘Scan the QR Code’ screen and click Can’t scan image?
13. Enter the Code and the URL displayed into the MS Authenticator app and click Finish
     
    
    

    Enter code and URL if you cannot scan QR code

14. Click Next
15. The MS Authenticator app will send a notification to Approve or Deny the sign-in request. Click Approve
    
    
    

    Approve or Deny sign-in request of the MS Authenticator app.

16. The notification has been approved. If the notification doesn’t work and you get an error message go to step 20
     
    
    

    Notification approved

17. Click Next
18. Your Microsoft Authenticator app is now set up, click Done
     
    
    

    Success, your method has been successfully set up.

19. Microsoft Authenticator will appear in the list as a registered method in the Security info page
20. If the notification doesn’t work (or you press Deny instead of Approve) an error message will appear in the system
     
    
    

    Error: Resend notification message

21. Click Resend notification to receive a new notification. If you clicked Enter a code, skip to step 25.
22. The MS Authenticator app will send a new notification
23. Click Approve
24. Click Next on your computer. At this point your Multi-factor authentication method has been set-up
25. If you clicked Enter a code, you will be asked to add an account
26. In the MS Authenticator app, click the symbol in the top right corner
27.  Click Add Account
28. Choose Other Account (Google, Facebook etc.)
29. On your computer, click Next
     
    
    

    Set your account and click next

30. Scan the QR Code
31. On your computer, click Next
32. In the App, open the account which has been set up for code (logo is a black circle with a person inside it)
     
    
    

    In the MFA app select your account

Setting up multi-factor authentication on a different authenticator app

If you would prefer to use a different authenticator app, or your device restricts you from installing the Microsoft Authenticator app, the following process will describe how to set up multi-factor authentication using a different authenticator app. First you must have downloaded your chosen authenticator app.

1. On the Microsoft Authenticator screen click I want to use a different authenticator app
    
   
   

   I want to use a different authenticator app

2. Select the option to add a new account from the authenticator app and select Scan a QR code
3. Click Next in the set-up window on your computer
    
   
   

   Set up your account using another authenticator app.

4. A QR code will be displayed on the screen
5. Scan the QR code
6. Click Next on your computer
7.  A six-digit code will be requested for the account being set up. Open the Authenticator app and type the code for that account
    
   
   

   Enter your six-digit code.

8. Click Next
9. Following successful entry of the code the set-up will be complete. Authenticator App will now show as a method of multi-factor authentication in your Microsoft Account

In some instances, the system will ask if you want to set-up an App Password. These are only required if you are accessing older applications or non-Microsoft clients - please see the list of compatible devices.

If you do not need to set up an App password you can close the page.

For more information about App Passwords, including how to request them for your account and how to set them up, please see the Create an App password for Nexus365 page.