New Phone or Mobile Device: Activating Microsoft Authenticator App

Description

Follow these steps if you need to activate the Authenticator app on a new smart phone or device after a factory reset or after replacing the device with a new one that has the same phone number. Your authenticator app is tied to your device, not to your phone number.

New phone number? If you are replacing your only registered device with a new phone number, please contact the IT Service Desk for assistance.

Environment

Mobile devices (Android, iOS, ChromeOS, etc.)

Quick Links

• New Phone/Mobile Device:
  • Remove old devices
  • Add new devices
  • Set up the Microsoft Authenticator App
• New Phone Number:
  • If you are replacing your only registered device with a new phone number, please contact the IT Service Desk for assistance.
• New Phone/Mobile Device, New Phone Number:
  • If you are replacing your only registered device with a new phone number, please contact the IT Service Desk for assistance.
• Factory Reset Phone/Mobile Device:
  • Set up the Microsoft Authenticator App

Solutions

Remove old devices (for new phones):

Note: You must remove old devices from your account before downloading and activating the Authenticator app on your new device in order to receive authentication requests on your new device. If you do not remove your old device, authentication messages will continue to be sent to your old device instead of your new one. Your authenticator app is tied to your device, not to your phone number.

1. Log into the myaccount.microsoft.com with your full @ohio.edu email address and OHIO password.

2. Select Security info by selecting it from the main menu, or by "Update Info" from the Overview page.

3. Delete the Microsoft Authenticator for your old device by clicking on "Delete" under the Microsoft Authenticator sign in method.
   

Add new devices (for new phones):

1. Select Add sign-in method at the top of the box.
   

2. Choose Authenticator app from the dropdown menu and follow the instructions to set up the Authenticator app on your new device.
   

Set up the Microsoft Authenticator app (for new and reset phones):

1. On your phone or mobile device, download and install the Microsoft Authenticator app.

2. In the app, log in using your @ohio.edu email address and password if prompted. If not prompted to log in, select the three dots and then + Add account.

3. Select Work or school account and then Sign in.

4. During sign in, it will ask you to verify yourself. Select I can't use my Microsoft Authenticator app right now to receive a text or call to verify your identity.

Outcome: You should now be able to use the Microsoft Authenticator app on a new or reset mobile device.

Get help from OIT

• Visit the Multi-Factor Authentication: Azure page to create a ticket

• View all Help & Resources: Multi-Factor Authentication: Azure