Your sign-in experience differs depending on what you choose to use as your second factor: a phone call, a passkey, an authentication app, or using text messaging. 

Sign in to your work or school account with a phone call

The following information describes the two-step verification experience with a call to your mobile or office phone.

  1. Sign in to an application or service such as Microsoft 365 using your username and password.

  2. Microsoft calls you.

  3. Answer the phone and press the # key.

Sign in to your work or school account with a text message

The following information describes the two-step verification experience with a text message to your mobile phone:

  1. Sign in to an application or service such as Microsoft 365 using your username and password.

  2. Microsoft sends you a text message that contains a verification code.

  3. Enter the code in the box provided on the sign-in page.

Sign in to your work or school account with a passkey

The following information describes signing into your work or school account with a security key:

1. Go to Office.

2. Sign in using one of the following methods:

  • Enter your username.

  • If you most recently used a passkey to sign in, you're automatically prompted to sign in with a passkey.

  • Otherwise, select Other ways to sign in or select Sign-in options to sign in more conveniently without having to enter a username.

  • Select Face, fingerprint, PIN, or security key. Continue to the next step.

3. Your device opens a security window.

To use your security key, follow the steps in the operating system or browser dialog. Verify that it's you by scanning your fingerprint or entering your PIN.

Mobile device might be prioritized over security key

Important: If you're using Chrome or Edge, the browser may prioritize using a passkey stored on a mobile device over a passkey stored on a security key.

  • Beginning with Windows 11 version 23H2, the operating system prompts you during sign-in. Below More choices, select Security key, then Next.

  • On earlier versions of Windows, the browser may show the QR screen to continue with using a passkey stored on a mobile device. Or to use a passkey stored on a security key, insert your security key instead.

Sign in to your work or school account with Authenticator 

The following information describes the experience of using Microsoft Authenticator for two-step verifications. There are two different ways to use the app. You can receive push notifications on your device, or you can open the app to get a verification code.

To in with a notification from Microsoft Authenticator 

  1. Sign in to an application or service such as Microsoft 365 using your username and password.

  2. Microsoft sends a notification to Authenticator on your device.

  3. Open the notification on your phone and select the Verify key. If your company requires a PIN, enter it here. You should now be signed in.

To sign in using a verification code with Microsoft Authenticator 

If you use Microsoft Authenticator to get verification codes, then when you open the app you see a number under your account name. This number changes every 30 seconds so that you don't use the same number twice. When you're asked for a verification code, open the app and use whatever number is currently displayed.

  1. Sign in to an application or service such as Microsoft 365 using your username and password.

  2. Microsoft prompts you for a verification code.

  3. Open Authenticator on your phone and enter the code in the box where you are signing in.

Sign in to your work or school account with an alternate method

Sometimes you don't have the phone or device that you set up as your preferred verification method. This situation is why we recommend that you set up backup methods for your account. The following section shows you how to sign in with an alternate method when your primary method may not be available.

  1. Sign in to an application or service such as Microsoft 365 using your username and password.

  2. Select Use a different verification option.

  3. You see different verification options based on how many you have set up. Choose an alternate method and sign in.  

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