How do I troubleshoot problems with Microsoft MFA?

Before troubleshooting a specific password manager, verify the following:

Confirm the passkey was successfully created

1. Visit aka.ms/mfasetup.
2. Sign in with your University account.
3. Verify that a passkey appears in your list of registered sign-in methods.

If no passkey appears, repeat the registration process outlined at How do I get started with Microsoft MFA?.

Verify device requirements

Passkeys rely on security features built into your device. Ensure:

• Your device has a PIN, fingerprint, facial recognition, or other supported screen-lock method configured.
• Your operating system is fully updated.
• Your browser is up to date.
• Bluetooth is enabled on both devices, if using a passkey stored on another device.

Confirm you are signed in to your password manager

Many passkey issues occur because you are not signed in to the account that stores and synchronizes passkeys.

Examples include:

• Google Account for Google Password Manager
• Apple ID for Apple Passwords
• Microsoft Account for Microsoft Password Manager
• Bitwarden account
• 1Password account

Check synchronization status

If a passkey works on one device but not another, the most likely cause is that synchronization has not completed successfully.

Review the synchronization guidance for your password manager and allow time for changes to propagate across devices. Find platform-specific instructions in the respective section below.

Common issues

The passkey is available on one device but not another

Google Password Manager requires synchronization through your Google account.

Verify:

• You are signed in to the same Google account on all devices.
• Chrome Sync is enabled.
• Password synchronization is turned on.

Chrome does not offer my passkey

Try the following:

1. Confirm the passkey exists in Google Password Manager.
2. Sign out and back into Chrome.
3. Restart Chrome.
4. Verify that you are using the Chrome profile associated with the correct Google account.

I accidentally created multiple passkeys

This is generally not a problem. Microsoft supports multiple registered passkeys. You may remove unused passkeys from:

• Google Password Manager
• The Microsoft Security Info page at https://aka.ms/mfasetup

Further Assistance:

• Get your bookmarks, passwords, and more on all your devices
• Manage passkeys in Chrome

Common issues

The passkey does not appear on my Mac, iPhone, or iPad

Most synchronization issues are caused by iCloud Keychain not being enabled.

Verify:

• You are signed in to the same Apple ID on all devices.
• iCloud Keychain is enabled.
• Password synchronization is enabled.

Safari does not suggest my passkey

Try:

1. Confirm the passkey exists in the Passwords app.
2. Verify iCloud Keychain is enabled.
3. Restart Safari.
4. Ensure you are using the correct Apple ID.

The passkey works on my iPhone but not on a Windows computer

This is expected if the passkey is only stored within Apple's ecosystem.

To sign in on another device:

1. Select Use a phone, tablet or security key during sign-in.
2. Scan the displayed QR code with your iPhone.
3. Complete verification using Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode.

Further Assistance:

• Set up iCloud Keychain
• Use the Passwords app to create, manage, and share passwords and passkeys

Common issues

My passkey is not available on another device

Microsoft Password Manager synchronizes through your Microsoft account.

Verify:

• You are signed in to the same Microsoft account.
• Synchronization is enabled.
• Microsoft Edge is updated to the latest version.

Edge does not prompt me to use my passkey

Try:

1. Confirm the passkey exists in Microsoft Password Manager.
2. Verify you are signed in to Edge with the correct Microsoft account.
3. Restart Edge.
4. Try signing out and back in.

Windows Hello appears instead of my synchronized passkey

Windows may prioritize a device-bound passkey stored in Windows Hello.

This behavior is normal. You can typically select Other ways to sign in or choose a different passkey provider if desired.

Further Assistance:

• Microsoft Edge introduces passkey saving and syncing with Microsoft Password Manager

Common issues

Bitwarden does not offer to save the passkey

Verify:

• The Bitwarden browser extension is installed.
• The extension is unlocked.
• Passkey support is enabled.
• The extension has permission to handle passkey requests.

My passkey disappeared after reinstalling the browser

Check whether:

• The Bitwarden vault successfully synchronized before the browser was removed.
• You have logged back into the correct Bitwarden account.
• Vault synchronization completed after reinstalling.

Multiple Bitwarden accounts are available

Ensure you are signed into the account that originally stored the passkey. Users with personal and organizational Bitwarden accounts occasionally register a passkey in the wrong vault.

Further Assistance:

• Autofill Passkeys
• How to create and store passkeys in Bitwarden

Common issues

1Password does not offer my saved passkey

Verify:

• The 1Password browser extension is installed.
• The extension is unlocked.
• Browser integration is enabled.
• The passkey exists in your vault.

My passkey is available on one device but not another

Check that:

• Both devices are signed into the same 1Password account.
• Synchronization has completed successfully.
• The item containing the passkey is present in the vault on both devices.

I recently changed vault permissions

If a passkey was stored in a shared vault, access changes may affect availability. Verify that you still have access to the vault containing the passkey.

Further Assistance:

• Save and sign in with passkeys in your browser