Setting Up a Passkey with Authenticator

This guide walks you through registering a passkey in the Microsoft Authenticator app on your phone. The process takes about 2 minutes.

Before you start

Make sure you have:

• Microsoft Authenticator installed and updated to the latest version (6.2+)
  • Download for iOS
  • Download for Android
• Your phone’s operating system is up to date (iOS 17+ or Android 14+)
• You’re already signed in to your work account in Authenticator
• A computer with a browser open (the setup starts on the web)

Step-by-step setup

1. Go to My Security Info

Open a browser on your computer and go to:

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

Sign in with your work account if prompted.

2. Add a new sign-in method

Click ”+ Add sign-in method”

In the dropdown, select “Passkey in Microsoft Authenticator”

Click Add

3. Follow the prompts

The setup wizard will walk you through several steps:

1. Confirm your identity - you may need to verify with your current sign-in method (password + existing MFA) one more time
2. Open Authenticator - the wizard will prompt you to open the Authenticator app on your phone
3. Scan the QR code - if prompted, scan the QR code shown on screen with your phone’s camera
4. Verify with biometrics - your phone will ask for your fingerprint or face to confirm
5. Name your passkey - give it a recognizable name like “Work iPhone” or “My Pixel”

4. Test it

After setup completes, try signing out and back in. At the sign-in page:

1. Enter your username
2. When prompted for authentication, choose “Sign in with a passkey”
3. Verify with your fingerprint or face on your phone
4. You’re in

Tips

• Name your passkeys clearly - if you set up multiple passkeys (phone + computer), give each a name you’ll recognize
• Keep Authenticator updated - passkey features may improve with app updates
• Don’t delete the app - if you remove Authenticator from your phone, your passkey goes with it (syncable passkeys may restore if you reinstall, but don’t count on it)
• Set up a second passkey if possible - registering a passkey on both your phone and computer (via Windows Hello) means losing one device doesn’t lock you out

Troubleshooting

“Passkey in Microsoft Authenticator” isn’t in the dropdown Your IT team may not have enabled this method for your account yet. Check with them.

The QR code won’t scan Make sure your phone’s camera has permission to scan QR codes. Try increasing screen brightness on your computer.

Biometric verification fails Make sure your fingerprint or face is registered in your phone’s settings (not just in Authenticator). You can also use your device PIN as a fallback.

“Something went wrong” error Close the wizard, close Authenticator, and try again. If it persists, try a different browser or clear your browser cache. Contact your helpdesk if the issue continues.