⚠️ WARNING: This article is intended for participants in the MFA Modernization Pilot only. If you are not a pilot participant, the information in this article may not apply to you. Contact the
IT Service Desk if you have questions about your current sign-in experience.
This article walks you through adding the Microsoft Authenticator app to your University of Maine System (UMS) account as a multi-factor authentication (MFA) sign-in method on an Android device. Multi-factor authentication adds a second step to signing in, which helps keep your account secure.
ℹ️ INFO: We recommend setting up at least two sign-in methods on two different devices, such as the Microsoft Authenticator app on your phone plus a passkey on your computer, so you are not locked out if you lose access to one device.
ℹ️ INFO: You may already use a different authenticator app or your device's built-in passkey manager. UMS IT primarily supports Microsoft Authenticator and passkeys, and we may not be able to help troubleshoot other apps if you run into issues.
How would you like to complete this setup?
ICON KEY: 💻 = do this on your computer 📱 = do this on your mobile device
Before you begin
- 💻 A computer with a web browser
- 📱 An Android device
Setting up Microsoft Authenticator
- 💻 On your computer, open your default web browser and go to aka.ms/mysecurityinfo.
- 💻 Under "Security info," click Add sign-in method.
- 💻 Select Microsoft Authenticator from the list.
- Make sure you select Microsoft Authenticator, not Passkey in Microsoft Authenticator. If you would like to set up a passkey, that can be done after you finish setting up Microsoft Authenticator.
- 💻 When the "Install Microsoft Authenticator" box appears, click the download link below then select the Android tab. It will show a QR code you can scan with your mobile device to go straight to the app in the Google Play Store.
- 📱 On your Android device, install and open the Microsoft Authenticator app.
- 💻 Back on your computer, click Next to display a QR code.
- 📱 In the Authenticator app, tap Add account. If you do not see an "Add account" button, tap the + icon in the upper-right corner.
- 📱 On the "Add account" screen, select Work or school account.
- 📱 On the next screen, select Scan a QR code.
- 📱 If prompted to allow the app to access your camera, select While using the app.
- 📱 Scan the QR code displayed on your computer screen.
- 📱 Wait for the "Activation. Please wait..." screen to finish. Your account will then appear in the app as University of Maine System with your @maine.edu email address.
- 💻 On your computer, you will see a "Let's try it out" screen showing a two-digit number.
- 📱 On your Android device, you will receive an "Are you trying to sign in?" notification showing "University of Maine System" and your @maine.edu address. Enter the number from your computer screen into the "Enter number here" field, then tap Yes.
- 💻 On your computer, you will see an "Authenticator app is set up" confirmation screen. Click Done.
You have successfully added the Microsoft Authenticator app as an MFA sign-in method for your UMS account. If this is the only sign-in method on your account, we recommend adding a second one on a different device before you finish. See the other articles in the How-To Guides collection for additional methods.
Use the interactive walkthrough below to follow along step by step.
If you run into an issue not covered here, see the MFA Troubleshooting knowledge base articles.
The IT Service Desk is available by phone, email, chat, and walk-up if additional support is needed.
Environment
- Applies to all University of Maine System (UMS) accounts
- Android devices
- Requires a web browser on a computer to complete setup