Set up MFA using your phone number

You can set up MFA using SMS text codes or phone call verification. However, we strongly recommend using your phone number as a backup method for the Microsoft Authenticator app, that way you can still access your account if you get a new phone and you’re using the same phone number.

Phone call verification allows you to use the university VPN. However, SMS text verification does not allow you to use the university VPN. 

You will need:

• A desktop, laptop, or tablet computer with an internet connection
• A mobile phone which can receive SMS text messages or phone calls, or a landline which can receive phone calls

Set up MFA using your phone number:

1. On your computer, open a new private or incognito window in your web browser.
   
   
2. Go to https://aka.ms/mysecurity. You might need to copy and paste this link into the web address bar in your private browsing window.
   
   
3. Sign in using your university email address and password and complete MFA.
   
   
4. Select + Add sign in-method.
   
   
5. Select Phone from the drop-down menu.
   
   
6. Use the drop-down menu on the left to choose your area code. Enter your phone number into the box on the right.
   
   
7. You can choose to set up SMS text verification by selecting Receive a code. Or you can choose to set up phone call verification by selecting Call me (skip to step 12).
   
   
8. If you selected Receive a code, a 6-digit number code will be sent to your phone.
   
   
9. Type the 6-digit code from your phone into the box on your computer screen. If you don’t receive a code within a few minutes, you can select Resend code.
   
   
10. Then select Next and Done to complete the set up.
    
    
11. If you selected Call me, your phone will receive a phone call.
    
    
12. Answer the phone call and press the hash key on your keypad (#). You do not need to hang up.
    
    
13. Then select Done on your computer screen to complete the setup.

If you ever receive an unexpected phone call for your University of Exeter account, do not approve it. Unexpected phone calls may indicate that someone is trying to access your account. You should change your password immediately and report the suspicious activity to the IT Service Desk.

Adding a new phone or mobile device

You will need:

• A desktop, laptop, or tablet computer with an internet connection
• Access to your old smartphone
• A smartphone with a camera and internet connection

If you have access to your old smartphone:

1. On your computer, open a new private or incognito window in your web browser.
   
   
   1. On Windows and Linux devices, you can open the menu in the top corner (often three dots or lines in a row).
      
      
   2. On Mac devices, you can use the menu bar at the top: File > New Private Window.
      
      
2. Go to https://aka.ms/mysecurity. You might need to copy and paste this link into the web address bar in your private browsing window.
   
   
3. Sign in using your university email address and password.
   
   
4. Complete MFA using the Microsoft Authenticator app on your old phone or your phone number (if you added it as a backup method and kept the same number).
   
   
5. From the list of sign-in methods, Delete the Microsoft Authenticator app to unlink it from your old smartphone. You can also delete the app on your old smartphone.
   
   
6. Select + Add sign in-method.
   
   
7. Select Authenticator app from the drop-down menu.
   
   
8. Continue from Step 5 in Set up MFA using the Microsoft Authenticator app (recommended).

If you don’t have access to your old smartphone:

1. Contact the IT Service Desk or Digital Hub.
   
   
2. While you are on the phone with the IT Service Desk Analyst you can follow the steps to Set up MFA using the Microsoft Authenticator app (recommended) or Set up MFA using your phone number to help yourself.