2 silly basic Authenticator questions

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2 silly basic Authenticator questions

Jeff Davis 70

I have a Windows desktop PC and use an iPhone. I've had an Authenticator app on my iPhone for a long time. I see that there's one I could put on my PC to, a different one. Would they both be sent codes or would I have to somewhere setup only one as the Default? I've been fine just using the one on my iPhone, but it might sometimes be easy if my PC also was sent the same code at the same time.
Along with this, would the 2FA thing that I see mentioned on the Microsoft become any type of hassle when just logging in or using my PC? I sure don't want that.

Authenticator

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Sin-D 10,390 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi Jeff Davis,

Thanks for your question and welcome to the Microsoft Q&A Forum. To clarify both points:

1, About using two Authenticator apps (iPhone + Windows PC).

There are 2 kinds of authenticator apps when using a Microsoft account: Microsoft Authenticator and non‑Microsoft authenticator apps. It seems you're using non‑Microsoft authenticator apps. So yes, multiple non‑Microsoft authenticator apps can receive the same codes if you add the account to both devices.

Microsoft Authenticator itself is only available on iOS/Android (the Windows Store app you showed is not from Microsoft). If you scan the same QR setup code into two different apps, they will both generate the same 30‑second codes. There is no “default”; you can use either device.

Also, consider adding Microsoft Authenticator as another authenticator option for your Microsoft account. This is different from the one‑time code in non‑Microsoft authenticator apps.

2, Will 2FA cause hassles when signing in to your Windows PC?

No. Turning on Microsoft 2FA does not change how you sign in to Windows. It only applies when you sign in to your Microsoft account online, add a new device, or make a sensitive security change.

If you’re already comfortable using your iPhone Authenticator, you can continue using just that. Installing a non‑Microsoft 2FA app on Windows is optional, not required.

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Jeff Davis 70 Reputation points

2026-01-06T01:57:17.6833333+00:00

Thanks Sin-D, but I've got to admit that I'm not up to your level of thinking on everything and I get confused on both of your answers. I guess I'll just skip having an Authenticator on my computer and keep doing it the way I've been doing with only having the one on my iPhone.

It's just sometimes a pain when I go upstairs to use my computer and I leave my phone charging downstairs and then I try to log into a site that needs to send me a code, like https://secure.ssa.gov/RIL/SiView.action, and I need to run downstairs to get the code. They even changed real fast so it keeps sending new ones which is a pain in the butt. I've learned to just grab my phone and not remember the code run upstairs.
Sin-D 10,390 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-01-06T04:55:59.0533333+00:00

Hi,

Thanks for your response. I got your situation; you can consider adding a passkey for your computer if you make sure your computer is safe and secure, and you usually access it with your computer. You can access it via this link to manage it: https://account.live.com/proofs/Manage/additional
Jeff Davis 70 Reputation points

2026-01-06T16:21:31.0266667+00:00

Thanks Sin-D. Over my head too I don't know what a Passkey is but I think I remember something on my iPhone offering me to add a Passkey to make something simpler, and then it rejecting me saying that those aren't eligible on this device, or something like that.

Anyhow, does EDGE have an Authentication add-in that I can use on my iPhone and on my home PC? If there is, I could uninstall the Authentication app that's currently on my iPhone.

I have EDGE on both and I have it set as my default browser on both since I hate all the other browsers and this way they share my Favorites between both of them AND I get to collect Bing Rewards points on both for every search that I do and it's set to automatically buy a $10 Amazon gift card when the points reach high enough.

I am no Tek dummy but these are tricky issues they were talking about for me. Maybe I'm old school. I took programming classes in the late '70s at Indiana University to learn Cobol & Fortran programming and then I taught myself programming in Basic.

I even set up my own network of computers, a server, a backup power uni and 6 desktops in a real estate business that I started after earning my California real estate brokers license in 2005.

See that at www.facebook.com/vankjeff/videos/198194306877559
Sin-D 10,390 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-01-07T06:26:48.72+00:00
Hi,

Thanks for sharing more background. These newer authentication terms can feel confusing, even for very experienced users.

To clarify your questions:

1, What a passkey is

A passkey is a newer sign‑in method that replaces passwords.

It uses the security built into your device (Face ID, Touch ID, Windows Hello, or a device PIN).

On iPhone, passkeys are stored securely in iCloud Keychain. On Windows, they’re stored using Windows Hello.

2, About Microsoft Edge and authentication

Microsoft Edge itself does not have a separate “authentication add‑in” for passkeys.

Edge simply works with the sign‑in methods already available on the device (iCloud Keychain on iPhone, Windows Hello on PC).

Using Edge on both devices is perfectly fine for syncing favorites, history (if enabled), and Microsoft Rewards.

3, Do you need the Microsoft Authenticator app?

Microsoft Authenticator is only required if you have multi‑factor authentication (MFA) enabled that specifically asks for it, or if you choose it as your sign‑in method.

Passkeys do not require the Authenticator app to be installed.

However, I recommend keeping Authenticator installed unless you fully confirm your account no longer prompts for it, as removing it too early can block sign‑in.

4, Why you saw a passkey message on iPhone

iOS may offer passkeys automatically, but not all accounts or configurations are eligible yet.

That rejection message usually means the account or sign‑in method wasn’t supported at the time.

If your account is signing in successfully today using your current method, there’s no requirement to switch to passkeys unless you want to. They are optional, not mandatory.

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2 silly basic Authenticator questions

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