Set up Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) using Microsoft Authenticator app

All College users must set up multi-factor authentication (MFA) on their College account. You will need to set up MFA the first time you use your College username and password to log in to a College service.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is an additional layer of security for online accounts.

MFA helps protect your personal and financial information. Using MFA reduces the risk of someone gaining access to your account even if they find out your username and password, for example through a cyber attack or scam. Microsoft research suggests MFA can reduce such attacks by as much as 99.9%.

MFA is a condition of the policies you agreed to when you connect to any College service or network you are agreeing to our Acceptable Use Policy.

How to set up MFA

Setup MFA on your college account

Install the Microsoft Authenticator app on your smartphone from Google play or the App store depending on your device
Open the app and tap on 'Add account' or the + symbol towards the top of the screen.
Select ‘Work or school account’ and tap on ‘Sign in’
Sign in using your student email and password and then select ‘Open browser’
You will be asked to sign in again on the web browser and will have access to your account security information
Select ‘Add sign-in method’ and choose ‘Microsoft Authenticator’
Select ‘Next’ on the following screen
Select ‘Pair your account to the app by clicking this link’ and tap 'Open' on the Microsoft Authenticator popup
You will be asked to enable notifications, select 'Allow'. You will receive a notification from the Authenticator when you attempt to sign in.
You will see your account appear in your Authenticator with 'Farnborough College of Technology' and your student email attached.
Navigate back to your browser and click 'Next' you will be prompted with a 2 digit number on the screen and receive a notification from Authenticator.
Remember the 2 digit number provided and tap on the notification you received.
You will be navigated to the Authenticator and a box will pop up for you to enter your code presented on the previous screen.
Enter your code and tap 'Yes' to approve your sign in request.
Switch back to your browser and you will see the sign in request has been approved and Microsoft Authenticator has been added as a sign in method to your account.
You are now setup to use MFA on your college account.

You may temporarily lose access to some College services if you:

Forget the phone or device you use for MFA
Lose or break the phone (or other device) you use
Get a new phone (or device) and fail to set up MFA on the new device correctly
Uninstall the Microsoft Authenticator app from your phone
Travel away from the UK and have text message (SMS) or phone call authentication set up as your main authentication method. Text messages are unreliable, particularly when you are travelling.

If you experience any of the above circumstances contact Computer Services by calling 01252 407161 or visit N6 on the Farnborough Campus.

If you get a new phone or device

If you have a new phone, you will need to keep your old device temporarily and follow the instructions to set up MFA on the new device.

If you need to travel

If you travel and need to access College services, please use an authenticator app as your default sign-in method. Log into the Microsoft Security Information page, and make sure the "Default sign-in method" is the authenticator app. Text messages and phone calls can be unreliable when you travel.

You can obtain a one-time code in the app if you do not have data while travelling. Simply open the app and click “Farnborough College of Technology” to see the one-time code.

Remember to take your MFA device with you when you travel.

Help and support

We have advice about using MFA, including how to sign in with MFA, and how to set MFA up on a new phone.

If you need more support, please contact Computer Services by emailing itsupport@farn-ct.ac.uk or visiting us in N6 on the Farnborough Campus.