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Multiple sign-in methods are available alongside the Microsoft Authenticator for your Tarleton account. These are important backup options in the event you lose or replace your smartphone. This guide will help you verify your secondary sign-in method and, if necessary, how to add one.
The Microsoft Authenticator app will handle the majority of your Tarleton account's authentication needs. But you should also have a secondary sign-in method available, which will most likely be used in the event you get a new smartphone. Whether because you upgrade to a newer model or lose your current phone and need to replace it. In any such case, you will need the alternative sign-in method to set up the Microsoft Authenticator app again.
These alternative sign-in methods will not be helpful in most cases where you forget your smartphone temporarily. You will either still not be able to verify via texts or voice calls sent to the missing phone, or you will only be able to verify from your Tarleton office. If you forget your phone and cannot log in, please contact ITS for assistance by calling the Service Desk at 254-968-9885.
Verify Your Microsoft Sign-In Methods
Go to https://office.com and log in using your Tarleton email address, password, and Microsoft Authenticator.
Click on your account picture/initials in the upper right corner.
Select View Account.
Click on Security Info on the left side.
This will list your current sign-in methods. You want to see one of these options:
- Phone - This should be your smartphone's phone number. It allows for either text or voice verification.
- Alternative Phone - Same as regular Phone.
- Office Phone - This would be your Tarleton office phone number (faculty & staff). It allows for only voice verification.
If any of those options are listed, and they show a phone number you have access to, then you have an available secondary sign-in method for your Tarleton account. You are good to go in case you replace your current Microsoft Authenticator device and can ignore the rest of this guide.
Add a Phone to Your Microsoft Sign-In Methods
If you do not see any phone number listed in the Security Info window, or if the phone number is incorrect, then you need to add or correct the information. That will then give you a secondary sign-in method for your Tarleton account.
Phone Is Listed, But Number is Incorrect
Click Change next to the number.
Update the phone number and verify it with a text or voice call.
After the verification is successful, your updated phone number will now be available as a secondary sign-in method for your Tarleton account.
No Phone is Listed
Click Add Sign-In Method.
Select either Phone or Office Phone under Method.
- Phone - Use with your smartphone number, allows for either text or voice verification.
- Office Phone - Use with your Tarleton office phone number (faculty & staff only), allows for only voice verification.
- Phone with your smartphone number is recommended.
Then click Add after making your selection.
Do NOT select email as a sign-in method. Tarleton email cannot be accepted, and personal email will not receive verification codes. You must use a phone number of some kind.
Enter your phone number and select the verification method. Click Next and the verification text or call will come through.
After the verification is successful, your updated phone number will now be available as a secondary sign-in method for your Tarleton account.