05 January, 2019

by Updated on 05 January, 2019 26 comments

How to use Google Authenticator App For Microsoft Account Two Step Verification

If you have enabled two-step verification for your Microsoft account, you have two option. Get a one time password over SMS or a Microsoft Account application on your Android or Windows Phone.

I prefer mobile Authenticator app over the OTP SMS. Many times, SMS takes too long to receive and or never get it night hours. It's frustrating to log in at late at night. Your experience may be different.
Especially talking about the Microsoft Account app, it's confusing than useful. Most of the mobile things Microsoft makes are crap though. They even don't know, email addresses do not have spaces and caps.
  • Basically the app is very confusing to set up.
  • Works only with Microsoft services.
  • Google Authenticator works with everything else.
  • Why keep two if you can do with one only?
It's very convenient to use Google Authenticator over Microsoft Account App for signing in to your Microsoft accounts like Outlook, Hotmail, and other Microsoft services. It is very easy to take just a minute or two.
  • Log in to your Microsoft account as usual.
  • Go to https://account.live.com/proofs/Manage
  • Scroll down and under Two-Step Verification, section click on the link 'setup two-step verification'.
  • Click 'Next' on the information page.
  • A new page with an option will open. You will be asked to choose how you want to verify your identities like the app, email or phone number.
  • Here you have to choose the link 'set up a different Authenticator app' instead of the drop-down menu option.
choose to use google authenticator for two-step verification of microsoft accounts
  • If you still want to use the Microsoft Authenticator app, you can download from the link on this page.
  •  You will get the QR code.

  • Scan the QR code with the Google Authenticator app and enter the 6 digit code.
  • You are done now.
  • You can now use the Google Authenticator application to sing into your Microsoft account.
  • If you want to disable the verification, go back to manage page and select 'turn off existing apps'.
 turn off two step verification on microsoft account
If you are still using the Microsoft Account app on your mobile, I suggest you give a try for this trick.

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How To Use Google Authenticator For Microsoft Accounts
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26 comments:

  1. ezwagesSeptember 27, 2016 at 3:25 AM

    thanks , very helpful

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownDecember 5, 2016 at 7:36 AM

    Thank you. Very helpful indeed

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownJanuary 16, 2017 at 4:47 PM

    thanks very useful

    ReplyDelete
  4. TundeyJanuary 19, 2017 at 4:01 PM

    I was this close to downloading the Microsoft app for Android. I realized I had the Google authenticator, googled and your page came up. Very helpful. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  5. ChadJanuary 26, 2017 at 11:40 AM

    new url to use: https://account.live.com/proofs/Manage

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownMarch 4, 2017 at 3:43 PM

    How do I add an account to the authenticator app, like skrill?

    ReplyDelete
  7. abbeyainscalMarch 29, 2017 at 6:50 PM

    Extremely helpful - the stupid MS authenticator app kept asking for a QR code and saying online "I haven't' set up app yet" - no kidding!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Murali BVMarch 30, 2017 at 1:05 PM

    thank you, please

    ReplyDelete
  9. UnknownApril 29, 2017 at 11:14 PM

    Wow, thank you! Microsoft does not make it easy to figure out.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Matt ThompsonJune 22, 2017 at 12:33 PM

    Thanks for this. If you choose an actual phone type now MS force you to use their own authenticator. By choosing other you get the actual QR code.

    ReplyDelete
  11. papapaJuly 19, 2017 at 6:53 AM

    Thanks :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. bazantikAugust 20, 2017 at 2:28 AM

    Very helpful, thank you :-)

    ReplyDelete
  13. UnknownAugust 31, 2017 at 12:26 AM

    Thanx. Didn't know that...

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousSeptember 9, 2017 at 8:14 AM

    thanks heaps, man... #lifesaver

    ReplyDelete
  15. SDRoadsterOctober 22, 2017 at 3:30 AM

    Thanks for the tip! they don't make it easy.

    ReplyDelete
  16. UnknownOctober 25, 2017 at 3:10 AM

    Helpful in 2017 October thanks

    ReplyDelete
  17. UnknownNovember 12, 2017 at 5:23 PM

    very helpful .. thank you! :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. UnknownNovember 20, 2017 at 7:18 PM

    Microsoft Authenticator has never been just for Microsoft Services. Always worked with all standard 2FA services. Is better than Google Authenticator, but there are a couple of authenticator apps better than both

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pravin VibhuteNovember 20, 2017 at 9:27 PM

      Agree. There are really some better third party apps than both, the Google Authenticator and Microsoft. But the purpose of post is, to inform about, users can use single authenticator app for all the services, likes of Dropbox, IFTTT.
      And the Microsoft app, do not work as expected for me at least.

      Delete
  19. GunbunnyDecember 15, 2017 at 8:31 PM

    Worked a charm, thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  20. UnknownJanuary 9, 2018 at 4:48 PM

    god this was complicated, so Im so glad I found your advice.. thanks mate

    ReplyDelete
  21. SunilApril 26, 2018 at 2:45 PM

    thanks. it saved me from installing one more app.

    ReplyDelete
  22. UnknownApril 4, 2019 at 2:29 AM

    work great tks

    ReplyDelete
  23. JDOOBSNovember 26, 2019 at 12:20 PM

    NOV 25 2019 THIS DOES NOT WORK.

    ReplyDelete