Set up 2FA for Microsoft

Before you start

This guide covers a personal Microsoft account. Work or school accounts can require organization-approved methods.

Open the security settings

1. Open the Microsoft account Security page and choose Manage how I sign in (called Advanced security options in some versions).
2. Choose Add a new way to sign in or verify → Use an app. Select Set up a different Authenticator app to reveal the QR code.

Connect Authenticator

Open Authenticator and choose +. Scan the setup QR code, or use manual entry if the service provides a setup key. Give the account a recognizable label and save it. Keep the QR code and key private.

Complete Microsoft’s code confirmation. Then turn on Two-step verification in Advanced security options if it is not already on.

How to add an account · Use a setup key

Keep a way back in

Adding a verification method and enabling two-step verification are separate steps. Code-based setup does not provide Microsoft push approvals or passwordless sign-in. Keep an alternative recovery method.

If a code is rejected, check the account label and device time, then try a fresh code. Troubleshoot a rejected code.