Login preference

Question

I would like to change login through email and use the mobile number and sending the code to the number instead of scanning a QR code.

Answer 1

To change from QR-code or app-based sign-in to using a mobile number with SMS codes, configure the phone (text message) method as a security info option on the account.

Use one of these supported flows from the context:

1. Set up mobile phone as a two-step verification method
   1. Go to the Security info page: https://mysignins.microsoft.com/security-info and sign in.
   2. On the Additional security verification page, in Step 1: How should we contact you, select Authentication phone.
   3. Select the country/region and enter the mobile phone number.
   4. Under Method, select Send me a code by text message, then select Next.
   5. Enter the verification code sent by SMS and select Verify.
   6. Select Done. After this, SMS can be used as the second factor when signing in, instead of relying only on QR-code-based app prompts.
2. Add phone as part of the security info wizard (if prompted from a sign-in page)
   1. During the security info setup wizard, after configuring the Microsoft Authenticator app, continue to the Phone set up page.
   2. Choose Text message as the option.
   3. Enter a mobile number that can receive SMS.
   4. Enter the code received by text and select Next, then Done.

Notes based on the context:

• Some organizations may block phone/SMS as an allowed method. If the Authentication phone option is greyed out, contact the organization’s administrator to enable or provide an alternative method.
• QR code is typically used only once to register an app (like Microsoft Authenticator). After phone/SMS is configured, sign-in can use SMS codes instead of QR-based prompts.

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References:

• Set up a mobile device as a two-step verification method
• Set up Security info from a sign-in page
• Use a screen reader to set up and troubleshoot multifactor authentication