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Microsoft Authenticator is a mobile app that helps you sign in to all your accounts without using a password. Notes: Microsoft Authenticator is not available for PC or Mac as authenticator apps are typically designed for smartphones for security reasons. Learn more.
If you have non-Microsoft accounts, such as for Amazon, Facebook, or Google, you can add them to Authenticator for two-step verification, or if your site or service supports adding an account using a QR code, you can set up Authenticator as a way to sign in.
You can set up an authenticator app to send a notification to your mobile device or to send you a verification code as your security verification method. You aren't required to use the Microsoft Authenticator app, and you can select a different app during the set up process. However, this article uses the Microsoft Authenticator app.
Microsoft Authenticator is a free app that helps you sign in to all your accounts without using a password - just use a fingerprint, face recognition, or a PIN. You can use Authenticator to sign in to your Microsoft personal, work, school or other accounts.
Many apps allow you to authenticate by entering a code on another device such as a PC. If you want to sign in on a remote computer to install Authenticator, follow these steps.
Use Microsoft Authenticator with Microsoft 365. If your organization is using multi-factor authentication (MFA) for Microsoft 365, the easiest verification method to use is the Microsoft Authenticator smart phone app. It's just one click instead of typing in a 6-digit code.
Microsoft Authenticator is not available for desktop computers because authenticator apps are typically designed for smartphones for two main reasons: Security : Having the second factor of a security question on a separate device enhances security.
Outdated app version: Using an outdated version of the Microsoft Authenticator app can cause issues. Make sure you have the latest version installed. Network issues: If your device is not connected to the internet, or if there are network disruptions, the authentication process might fail.
On the remote screen, open the Sign in to your account page and enter the code that you see in Authenticator. On your remote screen, sign in using your work or school account credentials. After you complete your authentication on the remote screen, return to Authenticator to complete setup.
For this situation, we recommend you use the Microsoft Authenticator app, with the option to connect to a Wi-Fi hot spot. For more information about how to set up the Microsoft Authenticator app on your mobile device, see the Download and install the Microsoft Authenticator app article.
