Using Outlook mobile to sign in
Whenever you sign in to your Microsoft account, you may also get sign-in approval notifications in the Outlook mobile app.
You will see sign-in requests appear either on the lock screen or in the Outlook mobile app. You'll also be able to get one-time passcodes which you can copy/paste into other sign-in screens.
How to use the Outlook mobile app to sign in to a personal account
Notes:
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Personal accounts can currently only use the Outlook for Android app.
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You'll need Microsoft Outlook for Android version 4.2405.0 or newer. If you already have the latest app, jump to step 3.
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Download and install Microsoft Outlook for Android.
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Sign in with your Microsoft account.
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Once set-up completes, you'll see a confirmation message that says you'll receive sign-in requests on your device.
Note: If you don't see a sign-in request or notification, check the notification criteria below.
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After that, whenever you sign in to your Microsoft account, you'll see a prompt asking you to check your phone.
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When the notification appears on your device, select Deny or Approve to continue.
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To confirm sign in, tap the number which matches the sign-in screen, then Approve.
Note: Not all sign-in prompts will ask you to match a number.
You can use the Outlook mobile app to authenticate in two ways:
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Receive a notification when signing in.
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Use a TOTP (Time based One-Time Passcode)
Notes:
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You'll need at least Microsoft Outlook for Android version 4.2405.0, or Outlook for iOS version 4.2438.0. If you already have the latest app, jump to step 3.
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Your organization must allow you to use Outlook to authenticate. If you are not sure whether your organization allows you to use Outlook for two-factor verification, ask your IT administrator.
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You should have at least one other verification method already configured. You can check this at https://aka.ms/mysecurityinfo. You can also use a temporary access password provided by your IT administrator.
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Download and install Microsoft Outlook.
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Sign in with your Microsoft work or school account.
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Once set-up completes, you'll see a confirmation message that says you'll receive sign-in requests on your device.
Note: If you don't see a sign-in request or notification, check the notification criteria below.
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After that, whenever you sign in to your account, you'll see a prompt asking you to check your phone.
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When the notification appears on your device, select Deny or Approve to continue.
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To confirm sign in, tap the number which matches the sign-in screen, then Approve.
Note: Not all sign-in prompts will ask you to match a number.
To use a code to sign-in, select ‘Use a code' where you initiated your sign-in.
To get the code from Outlook, open Outlook, select the circle in the top left, then the settings gear in the bottom left. Select the account that is registered for MFA, then scroll down until you see ‘Authenticator'. Select the tab to see your code and tap it to copy. Enter this code to complete your sign-in.
Frequently asked questions
If you have removed Outlook as a way to sign, you can add it back by following these steps:
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Select Settings then Accounts and then the account name.
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Select Account then Sign-in requests.
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Turn on the toggle for Allow sign-in requests.
Yes, you can also use Microsoft Authenticator.
No, sorry. Currently, the only mobile app for personal account users is Microsoft Authenticator.
No, sorry, this feature is for mobile apps only.
You can disable sign-in requests from within the Outlook mobile settings.
Tip: You can always re-enable sign in notifications if needed.
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Select Settings then Accounts and then the account name.
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Select Account then Sign-in requests.
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Turn off the toggle for Allow sign-in requests.
When you set up Outlook, you will receive an email from the Microsoft account team confirming the Microsoft account name, the app name and your device.
If you don't recognize the device, it's possible that someone has mistakenly added your email address, or has tried to access your account.
To ensure your account is kept secure:
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Do not respond to any sign-in prompts or notifications you did not request.
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Check your account's recent activity.
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If there are any events you do not recognize, select Secure your account.
If you received an "Are you trying to sign in?" prompt that you did not request, it could be because:
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Someone is trying to access your account.
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Someone accidentally entered the wrong phone/email when trying to sign in.
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Delivery of the prompt you requested some time ago was delayed.
Important: Select Deny to any requests that you did not initiate. If someone is trying to access your account, without the right response and your approval, your account is safe.
See also
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