How to Turn On Two‐Factor Authentication on a Microsoft Account

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methods

1Setting Up

2Signing In

3Turning Off Two-Factor Authentication

4Recovering an Account (If You Just Forgot Your Password)

5Recovering an Account (If You Lost Your Security Info)

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Two-factor authentication (also known as two-step verification) uses a code or response from a second app that you will need to download, a code from an SMS message, or a code from an email to sign in. This How.com.vn will show you how to enable two-factor authentication on your Microsoft account.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Setting Up

1. 
   1
   Sign in to your Microsoft account on a web browser. You will need to sign in to configure your account settings. Go to https://account.microsoft.com to manage your Microsoft account settings.
2. 
   2
   Click the Security tab.
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3. 
   3
   Click on "Get Started" link found under "Advanced Security Options".
4. 
   4
   Scroll down to find section of "Additional security" and click the link "Turn on" found under "Two-step verification". This will start the setup for two-step verification.
5. 
   5
   Click Next in the main "Two-step verification" setup page.This will open identity verification setup page.
6. 
   6
   Choose "An App" from the dropdown and click the Get it Now button. This will open Microsoft Authenticator App download page. You can download it by entering your mobile number and getting download link on your mobile through SMS. You can also use any other authenticator app on your mobile.

   • Other than Authenticator app, you can also choose Email or Phone as a medium to receive verification code.
7. 
   7
   Scan the bar code and add your account in mobile authenticator app to add the account in authenticator app. After adding account in Mobile App, get the verification code from app and Enter the verification code in browser window for successful pairing. Click Next after entering code.
8. 
   8
   Click the links given to setup Outlook sync on Android, iPhone or Blackberry. If you do not use Outlook on any of the given devices, simply Click Next.
9. 
   9
   Click Finish to finish setting up Two-step verification. A new option will be added for two-step verification with Mobile Authenticator App.
10. 
    10
    Click the link "Generate a new code" under "Recovery Code". Print or save the recovery code generated. This will help to recover account if you are ever unable to access authenticator app in future.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Signing In

1. 
   1
   Have access to your phone. You will need it to complete the sign-in process on any non-trusted device. Launch the Microsoft Authenticator app on your iPhone, Android, or Windows Phone. Then tap the arrow and choose "Show code".
2. 
   2
   Enter your Microsoft account information and password as normal. The sign-in process just has an additional step; you still need your Microsoft account and password.

   • You can also tap on "Use the Microsoft Authenticator app instead" to sign in using Microsoft authenticator. You will not need a password then.
3. 
   3
   Approve the sign-in request in your Mobile Authenticator App. If you sign in frequently on the device, check the box that says "I sign in frequently on this device. Don't ask me to approve requests here." Otherwise, leave it unchecked.

   • You can also choose to use a code from Microsoft authenticator. Choose "Sign in another way", then choose "Use a verification code from my mobile app".
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Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Turning Off Two-Factor Authentication

1. 
   1
   Sign in to your Microsoft account on a web browser. You will need to sign in to configure your account settings. Go to https://account.microsoft.com to manage your Microsoft account settings.
2. 
   2
   Click the Security tab.
3. 
   3
   Click on "Get Started" link found under "Advanced Security Options".
4. 
   4
   Scroll down to find section of "Additional security" and click the link "Turn off" found under "Two-step verification".
5. 
   5
   Click yes to confirm and turn off "Two-step verification". You can also click link "Sign me out" to sign out all of your trusted devices to stop any unauthorized access to your account. You will need to login again on all of your devices after you sign out.
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Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Recovering an Account (If You Just Forgot Your Password)

1. 
   1
   Maintain access to at least two forms of identification. You will need continuous access to one of three things.

   • your email address and your phone number,
   • your phone number and your Microsoft Authenticator app, or
   • your email address and your Microsoft Authenticator app. If you lose access to one of these three things, you will need your recovery code.
2. 
   2
   Click on "I forgot my password" at the sign-in screen. Choose how you want to get access to your account. You can use Microsoft Authenticator, your SMS, or a recovery email.

   • Note that you have to use at least two of them to reset your password.
3. 
   3
   Enter the first code that you received. Then choose the second way you want to get access to your account again. You cannot use the same security info twice, so choose a different method.
4. 
   4
   Enter the second code that you received.
5. 
   5
   Enter your new password and confirm. This will reset your password.
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Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Recovering an Account (If You Lost Your Security Info)

Note that if you lose your security info, you cannot recover your password.

1. 
   1
   Enter your Microsoft account and password to sign in. You need your password to finish the sign-in if you lost your security info.
2. 
   2
   Choose "Sign in another way", then choose "I don't have any of these".
3. 
   3
   Click on Next.
4. 
   4
   Enter your recovery code into the recovery code field. This is the only way to recover. If you click on No, and you complete the recovery form, no one will be able to help you because of the way two-factor authentication is designed.
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Warnings

• You may have to create a new Microsoft account if you lose access to it. Understand the consequences of losing security info.
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