Multi-Factor Authentication



⚠️ Changing Your Phone or Phone Number? Read This First.

Getting a new phone is exciting, but if the proper steps are not followed beforehand, you may lose access to your MCPS account. Please read the section below that applies to your situation.

📱 Scenario 1: New Phone (Keeping Your Number)

If you use the Microsoft Authenticator App, you must transfer it to your new phone before disconnecting or wiping your old device. To do this:

  1. On your old phone, open the Authenticator app and enable the cloud backup option.
  2. On your new phone, install the Microsoft Authenticator app and sign in to restore your accounts.
  3. Verify access is working on the new phone before wiping or turning in your old device.

You can also visit mysignins.microsoft.com → Security Info to add your new device as a sign-in method before making the switch.

☎️ Scenario 2: Your Phone Number Is Changing

If you use the Phone (SMS/Call) option and your phone number is changing, you must update it in your security settings before your old number is deactivated:

  1. Visit mysignins.microsoft.com → Security Info.
  2. Remove the old phone number and add your new one.
  3. Confirm the new number with the verification code sent to your new phone.

If your phone number is not changing, no updates are required for this method.

✅ Add a Backup Sign-In Method (Strongly Recommended)

Microsoft strongly recommends adding a secondary phone number or authentication method to prevent being locked out of your account if your primary phone is lost, stolen, or replaced. Most account lockouts occur because users only have one sign-in method registered, and adding a second method takes less than two minutes. Visit mysignins.microsoft.com → Security Info → Add sign-in method to get started.

🎫 Submitting a Ticket? Choose the Right Category.
To make sure your request reaches the right team without delay, please submit MFA-related tickets under: Account Creation/Update → Multifactor Authentication - MFA

Tickets submitted under other categories may be re-routed and could take significantly longer to resolve.

For general MFA guidance, visit the Microsoft MFA Support Page or go directly to mysignins.microsoft.com to manage your sign-in methods.

 

Introduction

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security by requiring two or more ways to verify your identity when signing in to applications, accounts, or networks. Instead of just a username and password, MFA uses additional verification methods to reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

MFA helps ensure that only you can access your account, even if someone else has your password. It protects against threats like phishing and is required when accessing district resources (e-mail, Teams, OneDrive, etc.) from off-campus.

 

For setup and extra help:

MFA Explained

 

Offline MFA & More