Setting up Microsoft Authenticator as your verification app

Two-factor authentication (2FA) helps protect you by making it more difficult for someone else to sign in to your account. It uses two different forms of identity: your password, and a contact method (also known as security info). Even if someone else finds your password, they'll be stopped if they don't have access to your security info.

Follow these steps to add your two-factor verification to your BGS account. After you've set this up the first time, you can return to the Security info page to add, update, or delete your security information.

If you're prompted to set this up immediately after you sign into your account, see the detailed steps in the Set up your security info from the sign-in page prompt article.

Important: If you have set up the Microsoft Authenticator app on five different devices or if you've used five hardware tokens, you won't be able to set up a sixth one, and you might see the following error message:

You can't set up Microsoft Authenticator because you already have five authenticator apps or hardware tokens. Please contact your administrator to delete one of your authenticator apps or hardware tokens.

To set up the Microsoft Authenticator app:

Select Security info in the left menu or by using the link in the Security info pane. If you have already registered, you'll be prompted for two-factor verification. Then, select Add method in the Security info pane.

On the Add a method page, select Authenticator app from the list, and then select Add.

On the Start by getting the app page, select Download now to download and install the Microsoft Authenticator app on your mobile device, and then select Next.

If you want to use an authenticator app other than the Microsoft Authenticator app, select I want to use a different authenticator

Remain on the Set up your account page while you set up the Microsoft Authenticator app on your mobile device.

Open the Microsoft Authenticator app, select to allow notifications (if prompted), select Add account from the Customize and control icon on the upper-right, and then select Work or school account.

Note: The first time you set up the Microsoft Authenticator app, you might receive a prompt asking whether to allow the app to access your camera (iOS) or to allow the app to take pictures and record video (Android). You must select Allow so the authenticator app can access your camera to take a picture of the QR code in the next step. If you don't allow the camera, you can still set up the authenticator app, but you'll need to add the code information manually.

Return to the Set up your account page on your computer, and then select Next. The Scan the QR code page appears.

Scan the provided code with the Microsoft Authenticator app QR code reader, which appeared on your mobile device after you added your BGS account.

The authenticator app should successfully add your work or school account without requiring any additional information from you. However, if the QR code reader can't read the code, you can select Can't scan the QR code and manually enter the code and URL into the Microsoft Authenticator app.

Select Next on the Scan the QR code page on your computer. A notification is sent to the Microsoft Authenticator app on your mobile device, to test your account.

Approve the notification in the Microsoft Authenticator app, and then select Next.

Your security info is updated to use the Microsoft Authenticator app by default to verify your identity when using two-step verification.

If you require further assistance, please visit the EdTech Service desk, or create a support ticket.