Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) – BC Knowledge for Students

Do I need separate MFA options for both my CUNY Login and CUNY email accounts?

rklein — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:23:05 +0000

Yes. The multi-factor authentication (MFA) method used for your CUNY Login is separate from the MFA used for your CUNY email account in Microsoft 365 (and also different than the MFA used for your old college email account).

You may use the same authenticator app for both, but you must add each account as a separate entry in the app.

Be sure to use clear names for each system that requires MFA. For example, in Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator, you can create distinct entries labeled “CUNY Login” and “CUNY Email.”

Learn more about CUNY Login MFA and CUNY Microsoft 365 MFA (email).

How to set up your Microsoft 365 Multi-Factor Authentication

rklein — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 21:40:05 +0000

Here is how to set up your Microsoft 365 Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):

Open https://aka.ms/mysecurityinfo
Enter your CUNY Login credentials to sign in to Microsoft 365.
The Security info page for your Microsoft 365 account is displayed.
Click + Add sign-in method.
The list of available factors is displayed.

Choose a verification option for your Microsoft 365 MFA:
Microsoft Authenticator App (recommended option) or Phone (least secure).

Review all the MFA verification options.

Follow the prompts to register your selected factor for use with Microsoft MFA.

After the transition to your CUNY email account, you will be prompted to respond to MFA prompts when logging into your email or accessing your Microsoft 365 applications.

Learn more about Microsoft 365 Multi-Factor Authentication

Do not remove the selected authenticator app from your device without adding another verification option. Doing so will prevent you from accessing your CUNY Microsoft 365 account (including your email). Repeat the steps above to add another verification option.

Need help? Contact the ITS Helpdesk for assistance.

Getting started with multi-factor authentication on Microsoft 365

rklein — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 20:49:51 +0000

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is an extra layer of security for your CUNY Microsoft 365 (M365) account (which includes your CUNY student email). With MFA, you must provide another piece of information after signing in with your username and password. This second factor is commonly a random code sent to your phone as a text, voice call, or generated in a dedicated authenticator app.

MFA is required for all CUNY M365 accounts and for all M365 applications, including Outlook Email, Teams, Copilot, and Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OneDrive, and M365 mobile apps.

Watch a video

CUNY Microsoft 365 MFA is not the same as your CUNY Login MFA. You will need to manage verification options for each system.

Learn about the different M365 MFA options.

Setting up Multi-Factor Authentication

When you first sign in to your Microsoft 365 account you will be prompted by a message that says “More information is required.”

Follow the steps to use Microsoft Authenticator (recommended) or click the link to use a different authenticator app. If you don’t want to use an authenticator app, click “I want to set up a different method” at the bottom to verify using a voice phone number or text message.

Learn more about the different MFA verification options.

How do I add another MFA verification option?

After enabling your first MFA verification option, open your M365 account security info page to add other options or change/remove options.

IMPORTANT: If you enable other voice/text verification options and require access to your college email when traveling outside of the country, ensure that you have access to the phone number used for MFA verification or enable one of authenticator app options, like Microsoft Authenticator.

Why does my student email account require multi-factor authentication (MFA)?

web — Wed, 11 Aug 2021 18:51:01 +0000

Multi-Factor Authentication improves account security by adding a second way (factor), beyond your username and password, to verify that you are actually signing in to your account. The second factor for your Brooklyn College email account is a verification code sent to an option of your choosing: SMS/text, voice call, or the free Microsoft Authenticator app.

When you sign in to your email for the first time on a new device or application you’ll be prompted to enter this verification code to prove who you are.

How do I change the way I receive my Microsoft 365 Multi-Factor Authentication code?

web — Wed, 11 Aug 2021 18:50:37 +0000

You can choose to receive your Multi-Factor Authentication code by SMS/text, voice call, email or using the Microsoft Authenticator app. You can change the way you receive your verification code from your Microsoft account page:

Sign in to your Microsoft account page
Click the Security Info option
Select the option to add a new method or update an existing method

I lost access to my Microsoft 365 Multi-Factor Authentication phone number, what should I do?

web — Wed, 11 Aug 2021 18:50:08 +0000

If you added multiple MFA verification options (you are encouraged to do so), select one of the other options to receive the code then go to your Microsoft account page to remove the lost device. If you don’t have a secondary verification option registered, contact the college help desk at 718.951.4357 for assistance.

See more tips from Microsoft.