How do I sign in using Microsoft MFA?

Overview

This article summarizes the different different sign-in experiences you may encounter depending on the type of Microsoft MFA you are using.

The following guidance also assumes you have registered at least one passkey in Microsoft MFA following the instructions found at How do I get started with Microsoft MFA?

Before You Begin

It is highly recommended that you read through What do I need to know about Microsoft MFA? prior to reviewing the below information.

Table of Contents

• Signing in with a passkey
• Signing in with a cross-device passkey
• Signing in without a passkey

Signing in with a passkey

Refer to How do I get started with Microsoft MFA? for instructions on registering passkeys. Depending on how your passkey is stored, you may have slightly different experiences signing in.

• In some cases, you may not even need to type in your UIC email address and will instead be prompted to use a saved passkey on the initial login screen. When this happens, you can simply select the passkey and you will be immediately logged in!
  
  
   
• If you do enter your UIC email address and select Next, you will then be prompted to choose one of your available passkeys.
  • An example is shown for Bitwarden and also Apple Passwords on a computer. Select the passkey and you will be immediately logged in!
    
    
    
    
    
     
  • On a mobile device, the interface will be somewhat different, but the options are generally the same, depending on what passkeys you have available. This example shows a mobile device with passkeys stored in Microsoft Authenticator, Bitwarden, and Apple Passwords. Any of the available options can be used. Simply select the passkey you want to use and you will be immediately logged in!
    
    

Signing in with a cross-device passkey

Sometimes, you may need to log in to your university account on a device that doesn't have a passkey already saved on it. So long as you have a UIC passkey available on your mobile device (e.g. in your Google Password Manager or in Apple Passwords) you can still log in using that passkey.

Note: this process requires that both the device you are logging in on, and your mobile device, have an Internet connection and have Bluetooth enabled.

1. In this case, when prompted select Use a phone, tablet or security key.
   
   
    
2. Selecting this will show a QR code you can scan with your mobile device.
   
   
    
3. Scan the QR code and follow the prompts on your device to complete the sign-in process.
   
   

Signing in without a passkey

If you do not have access to any of your passkey options, you can still sign in.

1. Enter your UIC email address on the sign-in screen and select Next.
   
   
    
2. If you have any passkeys registered to your account, you will need to select Cancel when you are prompted to find a passkey option. Then select Sign in another way when you see the screen stating we couldn't sign you in.
   
   
    
3. On the following screen, select Use my password.
   
   
    
4. Enter your password, then select Next. On the following screen, select an appropriate option based on what you have available:
   1. Select Approve a request on my Microsoft Authenticator app to receive a push notification to your mobile device where you will need to enter a 2-digit code.
   2. Select Use a verification code to use the one-time passcode in your Microsoft Authenticator app.
   3. Select Approve with Duo MFA to go through your configured UIC Duo prompt (e.g. Duo Mobile push).
      
      
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