logging into microsoft without an authenticator app

Question

How to get signed into Microsoft Azure account. We are a small town government and do not have a cell phone with an authenticator app.

Answer 1

Dear @Pam Paulson,

Based on your description, I understand that your small town government organization needs to sign in to a Microsoft Azure account, but users do not have access to a mobile phone with the Microsoft Authenticator app. You wonder what alternative sign-in or MFA options are available.

If your organization cannot use the Microsoft Authenticator app because users do not have access to a mobile phone, there are several supported alternatives available in Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD):

• Windows Hello for Business: allows users to authenticate using a PIN, fingerprint, or facial recognition on a managed Windows device. If users have dedicated Windows PCs that are joined to Microsoft Entra ID, they can authenticate using a PIN, fingerprint, or facial recognition without needing a phone.
• Temporary Access Pass (TAP): An administrator can create a Temporary Access Pass (TAP) that allows a user to sign in and register another authentication method such as a FIDO2 key. This is often used when onboarding users who do not have a mobile device

If you are the Microsoft 365 or Azure administrator, review the authentication methods configured in the Microsoft Entra Admin Center > Protection > Authentication Methods and verify that at least one non-mobile authentication method is enabled.

If users are currently unable to complete MFA and cannot access any registered authentication method, an administrator may need to update their authentication methods or issue a Temporary Access Pass.

I hope information above meet your expectations, please feel free to reach out if you have any other questions.

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