How to...
Okta - How to set up Microsoft Authenticator MFA
Please don’t follow these instructions unless you have been expressly asked to do so by the ITS team.
If in doubt please contact the IT Service desk.
You will need
- University of Sussex login details ready. (e.g. ano123@sussex.ac.uk and not Andrew.N.Other@sussex.ac.uk) and your normal Sussex IT account password
- Computer connected to the internet
- Smartphone
- Approximately 10 minutes to complete the task
Note: If your smartphone does not support QR code scanning we recommend using Okta Verify or Google Authenticator.
How to set up
Note: The Microsoft Authenticator app works in conjunction with the Google authentication set up. This is not a mistake.
1. [phone] Download the Microsoft Authenticator app from the Apple App or Google Play store onto your smartphone.
2. Visit https://okta.sussex.ac.uk/ and sign into your Okta account.
a. Log in using your IT username and password (e.g. ano123@sussex.ac.uk)
3. Click the arrow in the top-right hand corner and click on Settings in the drop-down menu.
4. Under the 'Security Measures' section, click 'Set up' next to the Google Authenticator option. (Yes, this is correct)
a. You may be prompted to re-enter your password.
5. Click the ‘Set Up’ button again on the following page.
6. [Phone] Open the Microsoft Authenticator app on your smartphone and tap ‘Add account’ or tap the ‘+’ (plus) icon in the top-right corner.
a. If requested, give the app permission to send you notifications.
7. [Phone] Under ‘Choose account type’, select ‘work or school account’.
8. [Phone] Tap ‘Scan a QR code’.
a. If requested, give the app permission to use your camera.
b. If your smartphone does not support QR code scanning we recommend using Okta Verify or Google Authenticator.
9. [Phone] Position your phone camera over the QR code that’s open on your computer screen and wait for it to register.
10. Once your phone has registered the QR code, click 'Next' on your computer.
11. [Phone] On the Microsoft Authenticator app on your phone, tap your username to reveal the code to then be entered into the Okta page open on your computer screen.
How to use
1. Next time you log into Okta, you will be requested to enter the verification code from the Microsoft Authenticator app on your phone into the Okta webpage open on your computer.
Support
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created on 2023-03-29 by Benoit Sharp
last updated on 2023-06-26 by Benoit Sharp