Configure Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication settings

This article helps you to manage Azure Multi-Factor Authentication now that you're up and running. It covers various topics that help you to get the most out of Azure Multi-Factor Authentication. Not all of the features are available in every version of Azure Multi-Factor Authentication.

Feature Description
Selectable verification methods Use this feature to select the list of authentication methods that users are able to use.

Selectable verification methods

You can choose the verification methods that are available for your users by using the selectable verification methods feature. The following table provides a brief overview of the methods.

When your users enroll their accounts for Azure Multi-Factor Authentication, they choose their preferred verification method from the options that you have enabled. Guidance for the user enrollment process is provided in Set up my account for two-step verification.

Method Description
Call to phone Places an automated voice call. The user answers the call and presses # in the phone keypad to authenticate. The phone number is not synchronized to on-premises Active Directory.
Text message to phone Sends a text message that contains a verification code. The user is prompted to enter the verification code into the sign-in interface. This process is called one-way SMS. Two-way SMS means that the user must text back a particular code. Two-way SMS is deprecated and not supported after November 14, 2018. Users who are configured for two-way SMS are automatically switched to call to phone verification at that time.
Notification through mobile app Sends a push notification to your phone or registered device. The user views the notification and selects Verify to complete verification. The Microsoft Authenticator app is available for Windows Phone, Android, and iOS.
Verification code from mobile app The Microsoft Authenticator app generates a new OATH verification code every 30 seconds. The user enters the verification code into the sign-in interface. The Microsoft Authenticator app is available for Windows Phone, Android, and iOS.

Enable and disable verification methods

  1. Sign in to the Azure portal.

  2. On the left, select Microsoft Entra ID > Users and groups > All users.

  3. Select Per-user MFA.

  4. Under Multi-Factor Authentication, select service settings.

  5. On the Service Settings page, under verification options, select/unselect the methods to provide to your users.

    Select the verification methods

  6. Click Save.