Choosing text messaging for multi-factor authentication to Office 365

You can choose to authenticate your Office 365 logins by having a 6-digit code texted to your cell. 

Choosing authentication by text 

1. The default method of multi-factor authentication is to use the Microsoft Authenticator app. If you want to use texting for verification, press the I want to set up a different method link.

2. Choose Phone from the drop-down menu in the Choose a different method window that pops up.

3. Press the Confirm button.

4. Select your country or region from the drop-down menu and then fill in the phone number (without the 1 and without spaces or dashes). Choose to have a code texted to you, or to receive a call. Press the Next button.

5. When you receive the text, enter the verification code in the indicated field, then press the Next button.

6.  You will receive a pop-up window letting you know that your set-up was successful. If you press the Next button, you will be prompted to set up the the Authenticator app as well as the text option for multi-factor authentication. This is optional. Just close the browser window and then open it again.  You can then log into your account and will only have to use the text code as your multi-factor authentication option.