Activate MFA (multi-factor authentication)
MFA (multi-factor authentication) is a service that provides extra protection when logging in.
This means that you need to use the Microsoft Authenticator app on your smartphone or tablet beside your Umu-id and password to log into certain university services on your computer.
This guide describes how you activate MFA for your Umu-id using your computer and smartphone.
If you have just activated your Umu ID, you need to wait up to 30 minutes before you can activate MFA for your account.
Please read through the entire manual once before attempting the steps.
Things to think about when changing phones
After you have activated MFA, it is recommended that you add MFA on your new phone before erasing/restoring the old phone.
You can do this via the Add multi-factor authentication on new device (MFA) manual before erasing/resetting the phone.
Should you still happen to erase your old phone before activating the new one, you can create a reset code yourself via digital ID, then check this manual.
Reset multi-factor authentication using BankID
Now click on Step 1 and good luck with the MFA activation.
Step 1 - Preparations
Step 1 – Preparations
Download the right version of Microsoft Authenticator via Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
It is important that the app icon looks like the pictures below and that Microsoft Corporation is the app originator.
Apple App Store
Google Play Butik
You are now ready to go to Step 2 below.
Step 2 - Start the guide
Step 2 – Start the guide
To start the wizard, you need to open the link in a private/incognito/InPrivate window to avoid problems.
A private/incognito/InPrivate window is a “version” of the browser that has no memories of your previously visited pages or logins. We recommend this version because many other organizations, businesses and individuals (eg Hotmail email) also use Microsoft. If you then open the link in the regular version of the browser, it can therefore remember other accounts or saved logins and then you cannot activate MFA for your account from Umeå University.
Right-click on the link below and select the correct option for the respective browser in the menu that opens.
- Google Chrome: Open link in incognito window.
- Microsoft Edge: Open link in InPrivate window.
- Mozilla Firefox: Open link in New Private Window.
- Safari: Hold Option and click “Open link in new Private Window”.
To start the activation guide, open https://aka.ms/mfasetup according to the instructions above.
Keep in mind that a new window/tab will open so you may need to “jump” between windows to get back to this manual.
When you are asked to enter your email, go to Step 3 below.
Step 3 - Log in
Step 3 – Log in
Type your Umu-id@ad.umu.se (for instance: abcd0123@ad.umu.se) and click Next.
You will be redirected to Umeå University’s login page where you need to enter your Umu-id password. Then click Sign in.
Go to Step 4 below.
Step 4 - Follow the guide
Step 4 – Follow the guide
After Step 3, you will encounter an image that looks like the one below. Click Next.
You will then be directed to a guide from Microsoft providing instructions to guide you through the rest of the process.
When you are urged to download the app, click Next. You have already downloaded the app in Step 1.
Follow the guide and read the instructions carefully.
Double-check Step 5 if you are uncertain.
Step 5 - Complete the guide
Step 5 – Complete the guide
In the Microsoft guide above, you need to take certain steps on your smartphone and other steps through a web browser on your computer.
After you have added the account in the app on your smartphone it is important that you complete the guide and test the service.
Test that it works
Two numbers will be shown on your computer. Type these in on your phone.
When you can see the image below, click Next and the guide is complete.
You have now activated your MFA.
Help - it’s not working for me
If you’re still having trouble activating MFA, below are some quick pointers on advice and tips.
- After you activated your Umu-id account, you must wait at least 30 minutes before you can activate MFA.
- Keep in mind that you need to use both a computer and a smartphone to enable MFA.
- You can only download the app on a smartphone (you cannot install it on a computer).
- The app you should download is this: https://www.microsoft.com/security/mobile-authenticator-app
- Make sure you open the link in the manual in a private/incognito window of the browser, see Step 2 in the manual.
- You log in with Your-Umu-id@ad.umu.se (e.g. abcd0123@ad.umu.se)
- If you have tried to activate MFA with only your mobile and have an account in the app, then try to follow the activation of MFA again but this time on a computer (see also the next point below).
- If you have used the app before for another account, click on the plus (+) at the top right and choose to add a work or school account and then Scan QR code. You get the QR code in Step 4 of the manual (but do Steps 2 and 3 first).
- How it works to log in after MFA is activated is described in this manual: https://manual.its.umu.se/en/log-in-using-multi-factor-authentication/
If you still do not get it, contact ITS Servicedesk, see the button at the bottom of the page.
Here is an instructional video that describes how to activate MFA
Click here to go to the video where we describe how to activate your MFA (the link will open in a new tab)
For english subtitles, click on “CC”, and then Settings and choose English.
Please note!
Logging in using MFA is not required every time. How often you need to log in using MFA depends on the user; how often you change networks and what software you use, for instance.
Changed or lost your smartphone?
If you have changed phones or lost your phone, you can reset your MFA using the manual Reset Microsoft MFA with one-time password. If you do not have Swedish digital ID, contact ITS Service Desk for assistance.