Microsoft Authenticator app now adds a new sign-in option to let you get into your Microsoft accounts only using your phone –no more passwords. If you’ve used the Authenticator app in the past, you know that it was possible to use the app for two-factor authentication requests, but in this new update, you no longer need to enter a password when prompted to sign-in on your Microsoft account.
Setting up the Microsoft Authenticator
If you want to try this new feature, you need to install the Microsoft Authenticator on your Android or iPhone device.
Then you need to add a Microsoft account as you would normally do the first time on any service with your username and password.
Once the account is configured, on the Microsoft Authenticator app, select the dropdown button on the account tile, and select the Enable phone sign-in option.
If you’re adding a new account on your Android or iPhone, you’ll be prompted to enable this feature automatically.
After everything is configured, instead of entering your complex password with uppercase, numbers, and symbols, you’ll get a notification on your phone, and then select Approve to sign-in.
According to Microsoft, using the new phone sign-in option makes the process easier than using two-step verification, and a lot more secure than only using a password.
The new feature is only available for Android and iPhone devices, unfortunately a Microsoft Authenticator for Windows phones is not a priority for the company.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows expert and the Editor-in-Chief who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He's also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 12 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows, software, and related technologies, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ & Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, and LinkedIn.