As promised, Microsoft has updated and renamed its previous account verification app for Android and iOS, Azure Authenticator, to Microsoft Authenticator. This app lets you use multi-factor authentication (MFA) with your online accounts. And do so more easily than before.
If you’re not familiar with multi-factor authentication (MFA)—sometimes called two-factor authentication or two-step authentication in the consumer world, please read Tip: Protect Your Online Accounts with Two-Factor Authentication. Short version: I’ve been preaching the benefits of MFA for years, and you need to protect all of your online accounts with this free technology.
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If you’re not familiar with Microsoft’s evolving plans for smartphone app-based, please read Big Changes Coming to Microsoft Authenticator Apps. Short version: Last month, Microsoft revealed that it would consolidate its previously separate MFA-compatible account verification apps, each of which offered slightly different functionality.
Today, Microsoft is beginning to implementing its promise. The newly updated Microsoft Authenticator apps for Android and iOS replace the previous Azure Authenticator apps, and will replace a weird smattering of other apps (like Microsoft Account on Android) as well.
I switched to Azure Authenticator (from LastPass Authenticator) a few weeks back on iPhone in anticipation of this change. I’m curious to see how notification-based verifications work with this app, and whether I need to reconfigure accounts to make that work.
And good news, Windows phone fans.
Microsoft also makes a Microsoft Authenticator app for Windows phone, and a coming version for Windows 10 Mobile only will provide the same functionality we see now on Android and iOS and allow you to use your phone to sign-in with your PC too. You might be able to grab a Beta version of this app—not fully functional—from the Windows Store now to get ready.
Download Microsoft Authenticator for Android
Download Microsoft Authenticator for iOS
Download Microsoft Authenticator Beta for Windows 10 Mobile (May not be broadly available)
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