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Introduction to Setup MFA with Mobile Phone
The instructions below will demonstrate how to setup MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) on your Mobile Phone for Microsoft 365. This works best as a secondary or backup MFA option, the Microsoft Authenticator is the preferred default for its security and reliability (see link to instructions below). Choose this option if you would prefer to receive a text message with a code or a phone call (faculty and staff only) to a mobile device to protect your account. See the two sets of instructions further below on how to setup these methods on your account.
Looking for general information, instructions on how to add more MFA options, or need assistance troubleshooting an error? Here are the other articles available about MFA for Microsoft 365:
- For general information and tips about MFA, check out the How to Setup MFA for Microsoft 365 article. Specific instructions for students are available in the MFA Setup for Student Email on Microsoft 365 article.
- Want to add more MFA options to your account, or looking to edit your existing settings? Learn how to make changes in the Add and Edit MFA Options for Microsoft 365 article. We recommend setting up multiple methods so you have more than one that can be relied on.
- Running into a problem or error message setting up MFA? Check out the Troubleshooting MFA for Microsoft 365 article for known issues and how to work around them.
- For more MFA options, check out these setup guides for the other methods available:
How to Setup MFA with Mobile Phone – Text Message
1. Begin by logging in to your EFSC Email account. For the best results, log in to your myEFSC account first and then click the appropriate Email icon.
2. You should now be directed to the Microsoft Sign in page. Log in using your EFSC Email Address to proceed.
3. With MFA now required, you should now be on the More information required page. Click on the Next button.
4. The next page will begin the MFA setup steps. To setup MFA with Text message, click on the link for I want to set up a different method (located at the bottom of this section). A small prompt should appear that says Choose a different method with a dropdown to select Phone. Click on Confirm to proceed.
5. On this next Phone setup page, begin by confirming the Country in the dropdown (default should be United States). Then, enter your phone number into the field (format example: 321#######). Then, select the Text me a code option. Below this is a note that states that “Message and data rates may apply while using text messaging for MFA”. To proceed, click Next.
6. You will be prompted to enter a randomly generated 6-digit code (######). This code can be found in a text message that was sent to your phone with the content of the text stating “Use verification code ###### for Microsoft authentication.”. After entering this code into the field on the setup page, click Next.
7. After successfully providing the code from the text message, the SMS verified page should appear. Click on Next.
8. Finally, the Success! page should appear. The Default sign-in method should display Phone and include the number MFA was setup for. Click on Done to proceed.
9. You may be prompted to the Stay signed in? page if you are not automatically signed into your account. You can select Yes to proceed into your EFSC Email / Microsoft 365 account.
Note: Choosing Yes on this page does not guarantee that you will not need to login to your account next time. This will usually timeout, so expect to log in each time with your EFSC Email address and confirm your identity with MFA. Keep in mind that if you have multiple email addresses that utilize this Microsoft platform set to sign in automatically that conflicts may arise accessing one or the other.
10. MFA has now been setup and you should be all set! The next time a login is required you will be prompted to verify your identity with MFA similar to step 6 above. For more information, please see the MFA Verification Process section of this article further below.
How to Setup MFA with Mobile Phone – Phone Call (Faculty/Staff Only)
1. Begin by logging in to your EFSC Email account. For the best results, log in to your myEFSC account first and then click the appropriate Staff Webmail icon.
2. You should now be directed to the Microsoft Sign in page. Log in using your EFSC Email Address to proceed.
3. With MFA now required, you should now be on the More information required page. Click on the Next button.
4. The next page will begin the MFA setup steps. To setup MFA with Phone call, click on the link for I want to set up a different method (located at the bottom of this section). A small prompt should appear that says Choose a different method with a dropdown to select Phone. Click on Confirm to proceed.
5. On this next Phone setup page, begin by confirming the Country in the dropdown (default should be United States). Then, enter your phone number into the field (format example: 321#######). Then, select the Call me option. To proceed, click Next.
6. Immediately following clicking Next on the last screen, you will receive a call to the phone number you entered. This will be from a Microsoft number and the setup screen should appear as below. Answer the phone call and an automated message will instruct to press the # key. After pressing the # key, the automated message should state that this was successful.
7. The next screen should indicate that the call was answered, and the phone registered successfully. Click Next to continue.
8. Finally, the Success! page should appear. The Default sign-in method should display Phone and include the number MFA was setup for. Click on Done to proceed.
9. You may be prompted to the Stay signed in? page if you are not automatically signed into your account. You can select Yes to proceed into your EFSC Email / Microsoft 365 account.
Note: Choosing Yes on this page does not guarantee that you will not need to login to your account next time. This will usually timeout, so expect to log in each time with your EFSC Email address and confirm your identity with MFA. Keep in mind that if you have multiple email addresses that utilize this Microsoft platform set to sign in automatically that conflicts may arise accessing one or the other.
10. MFA has now been setup and you should be all set! The next time a login is required you will be prompted to verify your identity with MFA similar to step 6 above. For more information, please see the MFA Verification Process section of this article below.
MFA Verification Process
After your verification option(s) have been successfully set, your EFSC Email account will be even more secure with MFA enabled. What is expected now that MFA is setup? Each time you log in to your EFSC Email account, you will be prompted to verify your identity, which happens immediately after entering your password. The verification is required before you may proceed to log in to the account.
First, select an option that is either most convenient for you at the time or is the one you have available to confirm your identity. Then, follow the instructions depending on the option selected to approve the sign-in. In this article we will review the two options for Mobile Phones:
A. Text – After choosing the Text option, you will be prompted to enter a 6-digit code. This will be similar to step 6 in the Text Message section above.
This randomly generated code can be found in a text message that was sent to your phone with the content of the text stating “Use verification code ###### for Microsoft authentication.” Enter the code found here and click Verify. This should complete the verification.
B. Call (Faculty/Staff Only) - After choosing the Call option, you will answer a phone call from a Microsoft number and press the # key when instructed. This will be similar to step 6 in the Phone Call section above.
The following screen seen below will be open while the Microsoft call is in process. Once you press the # key during the call and the automated message indicates it was successful, this will complete the verification.
Once the verification has been confirmed, you should then receive the prompt if you want to Stay signed in. Please keep in mind that selecting Yes will not guarantee that you will remain signed in, and you will likely need to confirm your verification the next time you log in. Keep in mind that if you have multiple email addresses that utilize this Microsoft platform set to sign in automatically that conflicts may arise accessing one or the other.
As mentioned previously, expect to verify your identity with one of the MFA methods you set up each time you log in to your EFSC Email account. What may not prompt you each time are the various Office products available, including Outlook applications. Typically, these will only ask you to sign in and confirm your identity once until either the password has changed on the account or there is an update or issue of some kind that requires you to sign in again.
Once you have confirmed your MFA verification option, you will then have access to your account!
For further assistance, questions, or concerns, please either create a ticket or call the IT Support Desk at 321-433-7600, open 7am to midnight, 7 days a week.
To create a ticket, login to your myEFSC account and locate the IT Support section as seen in the image below. When creating a ticket, select the Email, Teams & Calendaring category, followed by the appropriate Email Assistance service to submit a ticket. Please include an alternative contact method (if you cannot access your email). Include details, error messages, and provide screenshots, if possible, of the steps you have taken so we may further assist you.
