MS365: MFA Activation Guide

Date: March 12, 2025 Author: SLYFER Cybersecurity Team

Activating MFA on your MS365 Account

A picture showing various Microsoft 365 apps

Multi-Factor Authentication is an extra security layer that requires a second verification step in addition to your password. This additional factor, often a one-time code sent to your mobile device or generated by an authentication app ensures that even if your password is compromised your account remains protected.

Without any time to waste, let's get started on how to activate MFA on your MS365 account. Follow the steps below.

  1. Go to Microsoft365.com
  2. After signing in, click on the account profile picture at the bottom-left beneath the gear icon.
    3. A picture showing the microsoft 365 account icon
  3. Within the pop-up, select My Microsoft account.
    4. A picture highlighting the My Microsoft account option
  4. On the left-hand side, select the Security option.
    5. A picture showing the Security option within the account settings menu
  5. Under the Account menu, click on Manage how I sign in.
    6. A picture showing the manage how I sign in button
  6. After signing in, click on the account profile picture located on the bottom-left corner of the webpage, underneath the gear icon.
    7. A picture showing the microsoft 365 account icon
  7. On the new page, choose to set up 2FA using a phone number. (An email will be added later.)
    8. A picture showing the prompt requesting for a phone number
  8. After receiving your code via text, input the code into the prompt.

    9. NOTE: This adds your phone as a verification method but does not fully activate 2FA.

    A phone screenshot showing the verification code received A picture showing the code being input into the prompt
  9. On the Additional security options page, under Two-step verification, select Turn on.
    10. A picture showing the Turn On option within the Two-step verification menu
  10. On the two-step verification setup page, click Next to proceed.
    11. A screenshot showing the two factor verification setup screen
  11. A prompt will ask for an alternative email. Enter your email and click Add.
    12. A Microsoft prompt asking the user to input an alternative email
  12. Sign into your provided email, retrieve the code, and enter it into the prompt.
    13. A screenshot of an email containing a six digit pin A screenshot showing the six digit pin pasted into the Microsoft prompt
  13. Finally, you will be asked to create an app password. Click Next and then Finish.
    14. A screenshot of Microsoft asking the user to create app passwords for other apps A screenshot of Microsoft informing the user of additional apps that need an app password

    Congratulations! You have successfully activated 2-Step Verification on Microsoft365 and have increased your account's security. We can verify this by going back to the Additional security options webpage and within the Additional security section the Two-step verification icon should be check-marked green and says ON.

    A screenshot showing two-step verification turned on