Microsoft Passwordless Authentication Setup

Owned by David Zou
Last updated: Apr 11, 2024
3 min read

Passwordless authentication aims to solve the following:

  • Make sign-ins easier and faster by approving a prompt on a trusted mobile device rather than entering a password and then completing a multi-factor authentication challenge

  • Make sign-ins more secure as authentication is no longer reliant on a password being typed, which could allow an adversary to capture your password as you type it in

Setup

Passwordless Authentication requires you to have the Microsoft Authenticator App set up with your Microsoft account. See this page for instructions if you have yet to set this up.

Your mobile device must also be protected by a passcode or some form of biometric authentication.

  1. Open the Microsoft Authenticator app on your mobile device

  2. Tap on your NIDA Microsoft account

     

  3. Tap on Enable phone sign-in

     

  4. Tap Continue

     

  5. Sign in to your account by entering your password and tapping Sign In
    Then complete the sign in by completing your multi-factor authentication challenge

     

  6. Tap Register

     

  7. After successfully registering, it can take up to 10 minutes before password-less sign-ins becomes available.

     

Sign-in process

  1. Enter your NIDA email address into the prompt and click Next

     

  2. If prompted for your password, click on Use an app instead

     

  3. Take note of the number displayed to you on the login prompt

     

  4. Unlock your mobile device an tap on the notification sent to your device or open up the Microsoft Authenticator app.

  5. Enter the number into the prompt on your mobile device and tap Yes