KCS - Add backup options for Microsoft Multifactor Authentication (MFA)

Article State

Validated

Issue

Phones can become lost, stolen, damaged and will eventually be replaced. To make it easy to access your Penn State account when any of those situations apply, please setup backup options ahead of time as a contingency plan. You can pick as many or as few options as you'd like. We encourage you to pick more than one, if possible.

Environment

Microsoft Multifactor Authentication (MFA)

Resolution

Setup Backup/Account Recovery in the Authenticator App

1. Back up and recover account credentials in the Authenticator app

This article applies to iOS devices running version 5.7.0 and later and Android devices running version 6.6.0 and later.

The Microsoft Authenticator app backs up your account credentials and related app settings, such as the order of your accounts, to the cloud. You can then use the app to recover your information on a new device, potentially avoiding getting locked out of your Penn State account.

Add Your Phone Number

1. Visit https://mysignins.microsoft.com/security-info

2. Select + Add sign-in method
select + Sign in Method

3. Choose Alternate Phone
select alternate phone

4. Select Add

5. Enter your phone number and select Next
enter phone number

6. You will receive a call to confirm the number you entered is correct.

Add a Secondary Device or Secondary Number

Click the appropriate link to go to the next steps for enrolling the device/backup method of your choice:

Smartphone: Adding Microsoft Authenticator app

Cell Phone (Non-smartphone)