MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) requires the users to identify themselves by more than a username and password. In practice this means that after entering your username and password, the sign in is further verified with the smartphone application (Authenticator) you have linked to the service. It is the same principle as used for online banking.

Please activate your Microsoft 365 cloud service account in Account Self Service before enabling MFA.

How to activate Microsoft 365 account -Degree student and staff

The setup takes a few minutes and is recommended to be done on a computer. You will also need a smartphone (either Android or iPhone) to connect to the service.

 

1. Check that the software on your phone is up to date. If it's not, update it before you continue!

How to update Android smartphone operating system?

How to update iPhone operating system software?

2. Sign into https://aka.ms/mfasetup from computer using your Microsoft user account username@jyu.fi

When logging in, you request to enable extra security (MFA). Proceed to [Next].

 

3. Install the free Microsoft Authenticator application on your phone from the Google Play or Apple App Store. Do not sign in to Authenticator application. 

Once you have installed the application, return to your computer and click [Next].

4. Open the Microsoft Authenticator app on your phone and add a new account to the app by selecting "Scan QR code". 

You will receive the QR code when you click [Next] on your computer.

 

5. Accept using your phone's camera to scan the QR code. Select "This time only" or "When using the app". Scan the QR code from your computer screen. 

Also accept notifications for the app.

Do not sign in! Scan the QR code displayed in your computer’s browser with your phone’s Microsoft Authenticator app.

6. Once you have successfully scanned the code, press [Next] from the computer’s browser.

 

7. Deployment now asks for MFA verification from the Microsoft Authenticator app on your phone, where you enter the number displayed on your computer screen and accept the query. Authenticator- asks for your PIN- code after you enter the number displayed on the screen (or to show your fingerprint or facial recognition). The PIN- code is the same one you use to unlock your phone every time you pick it up.

8. After the accepted MFA request is received, press the [Done] button and the MFA setup is successfully completed.



NOTE! If you use multi-factor authentication infrequently, do not uninstall an app when your phone suggests uninstalling infrequently used apps.

Read more: How often multi-factor authentication approval is requested?