How to set up multi-factor authentication

When you are signing in to the university’s systems, you will need to verify your sign-in with the Microsoft Authenticator app or a text message code. Read instructions how to set up multi-factor authentication on your phone.

Published 12.9.2023 | Updated 12.3.2024

To get started, you’ll need

A computer to enable the multi-factor authentication method.
A phone or mobile device used to verify your logins.
Your Uniarts ID. If you have accounts for multiple organizations’ Microsoft O365 services (e.g. email, Teams), please log out of the other organization’s services first. Alternatively, you can use your browser’s private browsing or incognito window.

Possible multi-factor authentication methods

Text message (SMS) to your phone. This login method is set up first and can be used going forward, but we recommend that you enable Microsoft Authenticator app as your primary login method if possible.
Microsoft Authenticator app. This is the preferred method. To use the app, you will need to have a smartphone or similar mobile device.

Step-by-step instructions

On a computer:

Using your browser, go to: https://aka.ms/mfasetup
Log in with your university username and password. Enter your username in the format: abc12345@uniarts.fi
You will receive a message “More information required”, click “Next”.
You will be taken to a page titled “Keep your account secure”.
At this point, select “I want to set up a different method”.
In the “Choose a different method” window, select “Phone” from the list and click “Confirm”.
In the “Phone” details window, first select your area code and then enter your phone number. The “Text me a code” button is automatically checked, so just click “Next”.
You will receive a 6-digit code for your phone. Enter it in the field and then click “Next”.
You will receive a confirmation “SMS verified”. Click “Next” again.
You will receive a confirmation “Success!” and the current “Default sign-in method” is displayed. Click “Done”.
Now try to log in at this address: https://mysignins.microsoft.com/security-info.
After entering your university login ID and password, you will be prompted to “Verify your identity”. Click on “Text +XXX XXXXX” and you will receive a text message on your phone with the login verification code. Enter it.

You are now on your Security info page and you will see your login method listed. You should now see “Phone” and the phone number you use to receive the SMS confirmation codes.

The Multi-Factor Authentication login method has now been successfully added! We strongly recommend that you still use Microsoft Authenticator and change it to be the default login method. Instructions on how to start using the Microsoft Authenticator app can be found below.

Adding the Microsoft Authenticator app

In the following instructions, some of the activities are done on the computer and some on the phone.

On the phone:
- Download the free Microsoft Authenticator app from the App Store to your phone.
On a computer:
- Using your computer browser, go to the Security Info website: https://mysignins.microsoft.com/security-info.
- Click on “+ Add method”.
- Select “Authenticator application” from the list and click “Add”.
- You will receive a message “Start by getting the app”. As you have already downloaded the app, just click “Next”.
- On the next screen “Set up your account”, click “Next” again.
- Now the screen will say “Scan QR Code” and a QR code will be displayed.
On the phone:
- Open the Microsoft Authenticator app you downloaded to your phone. Click “Accept”, then “Continue”, then select “Add work or school account” and “Scan a QR code”.
- Now using your phone scan the QR code that appears on your computer screen. Your university account should now be added to the Microsoft Authenticator app on your phone.
- If the Microsoft Authenticator app on your phone asks you to allow notifications, then allow them.
On your computer:
- From the screen displaying the QR code move forward by clicking “Next”
- The text “Let’s try it out – Approve the notification we’re sending to your app by entering the number shown below” will appear.
On the phone:
- On your phone, the Microsoft Authenticator app will now ask for the numbers that appear on your computer screen, so enter them on your phone and confirm that you’re signing in. Note that each time you use the Microsoft Authenticator app, you will need to enter the code you use to unlock your phone or use fingerprint recognition if you have it enabled.
On your computer:
- The computer screen will now say “Notification approved”, so click “Next”.
- You will receive a message that Microsoft Authenticator has now been successfully added as an authentication method!

See below for instructions on how to change Microsoft Authenticator as the default login method.

Go to the Security Info page in your browser: https://mysignins.microsoft.com/security-info
Click “Change” next to the current default login method.
In the window that opens, select “Application-based authentication – notification” from the list.
click “Confirm”.

Now, by default, the authentication of the login is done through the Microsoft Authenticator app. If necessary, you can still use SMS verification as a fallback method if authentication via Microsoft Authenticator should ever fail. It is a good idea to have set up at least two verification methods.

Finishing up

Test the login one more time by logging into your email: https://webmail.uniarts.fi.

OneDrive app: if you use the OneDrive app on your computer to sync your files between your OneDrive cloud storage and your computer, make sure that after enabling multi-factor authentication, the sync is active.

When creating a new file on your computer, check that it is also synced to the cloud. This can be done by going to OneDrive in your browser and checking that the file you saved on your computer is also there.

To be on the safe side, you can log out of OneDrive app on your computer and then log back in.