Protecting You and Your Information
Our campus uses Microsoft Authenticator as the official app for Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)—an added layer of security that protects your account with a two-step verification process. With MFA in place, even if your password is stolen, an attacker faces another barrier before gaining access. Typically, this means verifying your identity with two things:
Something you know – your username and password
Something you have – like your phone, where you receive a prompt from the Microsoft Authenticator app.
You may already use MFA with services like your bank, Gmail, or social media. While MFA isn’t foolproof and doesn’t stop every type of cyberattack, it significantly reduces the risk by making unauthorized access much harder.
Getting Started with Microsoft Authenticator App
To download the Microsoft Authenticator app on your mobile devices, select one of the options below:
After downloading and launching the app, select “Work or School account” on the first screen and log-in using the same email and password as the login for your MyCalStateLA portal.
Then, select the method you would like to verify your identity.
After verifying your identity, hit continue and wait for the Microsoft Authenticator app to load. After it has finished loading, you should see the screen below, indicating you have successfully added your Calstatela account to the Microsoft Authenticator. Go ahead and click done to finish your set up.
If you already have the Microsoft Authenticator app but not set up for 2-step verification, on the main page, click on the arrow next to the account you want to set up and click on "Set up 2-step verification." Follow the steps above to complete your 2-step verification set up.
Adding an Account to The Microsoft Authenticator App
If you're looking to add another account to the Microsoft Authenticator, hit the plus icon at the top and select the "Work or school account."
After inputting your credentials, if you already have a phone number set up with the account, you can receive a code via call or text and the authenticator will verify your identity that way. If not, it will ask you to finish setting up on your web browser. Go ahead and open your browser which will lead you to the security info screen and click on "Add sign-in method."
You will have multiple options to add a sign-in method but you will have to select either a phone call or text to receive a code since your Microsoft Authenticator for this account will not be set up yet.
After setting up your phone number as a sign-in method, you can head back to the Microsoft Authenticator app and hit the plus icon at the top. You will then select "Work or school account" and your account should be saved there. Select the account you want to continue setting up and you'll be able to verify your account via call or text from the phone number you just set up.
Don't Want to Use the Microsoft Authenticator App
Using your current method of login, follow these steps below to add your phone number if you haven't already done so. As we transition to the Microsoft Authenticator app, here are some methods to authenticate without the app:
- SMS
- Phone Call
After signing in to your work or school account, head to your My Accountpage then navigate to your Security Info tab.
Once you're in the Security Info tab, select Add Method and choose the phone option.
On the phone page, enter the phone number for your device and select call or text. After verifying your phone number, your phone will now be 2-step ready.
Once your phone number has been verified, you'll need to change your default sign-in method to receive your code via text or call.
