Step-by-Step MFA Setup Instructions
This page will give step-by-step instructions on how to set up Microsoft Multi-Factor Authentication (Microsoft MFA) for your Fredonia account.
In order to have your SUNY Fredonia account migrated to Microsoft MFA, please fill out the Microsoft MFA Early Adoption Request Form.
Important: It is very important to add multiple sign in methods for Microsoft MFA. Adding multiple sign in methods ensures that you will never get locked out of your Fredonia account, even if you don’t have access to one of your sign-in methods, for example, the Authenticator App.
After you have completed this guide, it is very important to add at least two, but certainly as many sign in methods as you can, to Microsoft MFA. To do this, follow this guide on Adding Multiple Sign-in Methods to Microsoft MFA.
Check out this Step-by-Step Video Guide that follows along with this article.
How to Setup the Microsoft Authenticator app for Microsoft MFA
Once your account is switched over to Microsoft MFA, the next time you log into your Fredonia account with your username and password, you will see the screen below. Select Next.
Once you sign in, you will be redirected to the Microsoft Authenticator setup screen.
On your phone, install the Microsoft Authenticator app by searching Microsoft Authenticator on the App Store or Play Store.
Note: Using the Microsoft Authenticator app is the recommended method for Multi-Factor Authentication, but there are many ways to authenticate using Microsoft MFA. If you would not like to use the Microsoft Authenticator App for verification, click “I want to set up a different method” on your computer. You can receive a call on your phone or office landline for verification.
Once you have installed the Microsoft Authenticator app on your phone, and have allowed notifications, click Next on your computer.
You will now see this screen.
On your phone, open the Microsoft Authenticator app.
Again, make sure to allow the app to send notifications so you get notified when needing to use MFA to login.
Then, when prompted to add an account, select Work or School. If you already have a personal account tied to the Microsoft Authenticator app, click the plus button + on the top of the screen, and then select work or school account.
Then, on your computer, select Next. You will now see a QR code.
In the Authenticator app on your phone, select scan a QR code. Scan the QR code with your phone, and your account will be added.
Once you have scanned the QR code, on your computer, select Next.
You will now see numbers on your computer. Typing these numbers into your phone is the way Microsoft Authenticator verifies that it is you who is logging in. On your phone, open the Microsoft Authenticator app. A window will pop up with a place to enter the numbers that are shown on your computer. Enter the numbers, and then select Yes. Then, on your computer, select Next.
You will then be greeted by a success screen, and you have successfully set up your account to use Microsoft Authentication. Select Done to continue.
You will then be redirected to a login screen. After logging in, your computer will show another set of numbers for you to enter into the Microsoft Authenticator app. Enter them as you did before. There also is an option called Don’t ask again for 14 days. This option will allow you to log in without using Microsoft Authentication for 14 days.
After entering the numbers and selecting Yes, you will be logged in. You have now successfully set up Microsoft Multi-Factor Authentication.