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Set up the Authenticator web browser extension

If you are unable to use a mobile device to set up MFA, you can install the Authenticator web browser extension as an alternative solution.

You can download and install the web browser extension onto your Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox browser.

  1. Use the Microsoft Edge web browser on your computer to navigate to the Authenticator extension home page – and click on the button Add to Edge.
  2. You will be taken to the Microsoft Edge Add-ons website, with Authenticator already selected and ready to install. Click Get.
  3. Microsoft Edge will prompt you to confirm that you want to add the Authenticator extension. Click Add extension.
  4. Once the extension has installed successfully, you will be notified that Authenticator has been added to Microsoft Edge. Click the “X” button on the popup to dismiss it.
  5. Now use Microsoft Edge web browser to navigate to https://aka.ms/mfasetup
  6. You may be asked to log in to Office 365 (if not, you will move straight to step 7). If you are asked to log in to Office 365, enter your Cardiff University email address and click Next. You will then be redirected to Cardiff University's familiar login screen. Please enter your Cardiff University email address and password as normal and click Log in.
    • Those without a Cardiff University email address (and only a username) will need to enter the username followed by ‘@cardiff.ac.uk’.
  7. If you have not previously set up any MFA methods then after successfully logging in you will be prompted that more information is required. Click Next and skip to step 9. Otherwise you will be taken to the My Sing-ins page where you can review the MFA methods you have already set up so far. Click on Add method.
  8. In the popup dialogue that appears, select Authenticator app from the drop down list, and then click Add.
  9. You will be presented with a Microsoft Authenticator dialogue which says to start by getting the app. Click I want to use a different authenticator app.
  10. The next screen prompts you to Set up your account. Click Next.
  11. The next screen provides a QR code. Click on Can’t scan image.
  12. A “Secret key” will be displayed, click on the icon of two overlapping files to the right of the Secret key. That will copy the Secret key text ready for pasting.
  13. Click the stylised QR button to the right of the address bar at the top of the browser, and the Authenticator add-on will appear.
  14. Within the Authenticator add-on, click on the icon of a pencil, and then click on the plus icon to add an account.
  15. Click on Manual Entry.
  16. Enter Cardiff University into the Issuer textbox, or alternatively enter another identifier of your choosing that will help you to remember that this entry relates to Cardiff University Office 365 MFA.
  17. Paste the “secret key” you copied in step 11 into the text box labelled Secret.
  18. Click on Ok.
  19. The Authenticator add-on will show a new entry Cardiff University with a 6-digit code that refreshes every 30 second
  20. Click on the icon of a pencil
  21. Within the Cardiff University entry, enter your Cardiff University email address into the Username textbox.
    • Those without a Cardiff University email address (and only a username) will need to enter the username followed by ‘@cardiff.ac.uk’.
  22. Click on the tick icon.
  23. The Authenticator add-on will now update the new entry to include your email address
  24. Click on the 6-digit code.
  25. You will be asked whether to give the Authenticator add-on the ability to copy the 6-digit code into your computer clipboard. Click Allow.
  26. Clicking on the 6-digit code will cause it to be copied into your computer clipboard.
  27. On the webpage with the QR code and Secret key, click Next. Microsoft will prompt you to enter the six-digit code from within Authenticator. Enter it and click Next. The Authenticator extension has been linked to your account. You can now use the application to complete MFA for your account.
  28. Click Set default sign-in method, and in the popup list, select your preferred method for completing MFA.
  29. Your chosen default sign-in method will now be displayed.
  1. Use the Google Chrome web browser on your computer to navigate to the Authenticator extension home page – and click on the button Add to Chrome.
  2. You will be taken to the Google Chrome web store website, with Authenticator already selected and ready to install. Click Add to Chrome.
  3. Google Chrome will prompt you to confirm that you want to add the Authenticator extension. Click Add extension.
  4. Once the extension has installed successfully, you will be notified that Authenticator has been added to Google Chrome. Click the “X” button on the popup to dismiss it.
  5. Now use Google Chrome web browser to navigate to https://aka.ms/mfasetup
  6. You may be asked to log in to Office 365 (if not, you will move straight to step 7). If you are asked to log in to Office 365, enter your Cardiff University email address and click Next.  You will then be redirected to Cardiff University's familiar login screen.  Please enter your Cardiff University email address and password as normal and click Log in.
    • Those without a Cardiff University email address (and only a username) will need to enter the username followed by ‘@cardiff.ac.uk’.
  7. If you have not previously set up any MFA methods then after successfully logging in, you will be prompted that More information is required. Click Next and skip to step 9. Otherwise you will be taken to the My Sign-ins page where you can review the MFA methods you have already set up so far. Click on Add method.
  8. In the popup dialogue that appears, selected Authenticator app from the drop down list and then click Add.
  9. You will be presented with a Microsoft Authenticator dialogue which says to start by getting the app. Click I want to use a different authenticator app.
  10. The next screen prompts you to Set up your account. Click Next.
  11. The next screen provides a QR code. Click on Can’t scan image?
  12. A “Secret key” will be displayed, click on the icon of two overlapping files to the right of the Secret key. That will copy the Secret key text ready for pasting.
  13. Click the stylised jigsaw button to the right of the address bar at the top of the browser, to access the list of installed extensions. The Authenticator extension should appear in the popup list (as either Access requested, Full access, or No access needed). Click it and the Authenticator extension will appear.
  14. Within the Authenticator extension, click on the icon of a pencil, and then click on the plus icon to add an account.
  15. Click on Manual Entry.
  16. Enter Cardiff University into the Issuer textbox, or alternatively enter another identifier of your choosing that will help you to remember that this entry relates to Cardiff University Office 365 MFA.
  17. Paste the “Secret key” you copied in step 11 into the text box labelled Secret.
  18. Click on Ok.
  19. The Authenticator add-on will show a new entry Cardiff University with a 6-digit code that refreshes every 30 seconds.
  20. Click on the icon of a pencil
  21. Within the Cardiff University entry, enter your Cardiff University email address into the Username textbox.
    • Those without a Cardiff University email address (and only a username) will need to enter the username followed by ‘@cardiff.ac.uk’.
  22. Click on the tick icon.
  23. The Authenticator add-on will now update the new entry to include your email address.
  24. Click on the 6-digit code.
  25. You will be asked whether to give the Authenticator add-on the ability to copy the 6-digit code into your computer clipboard. Click Allow.
  26. Clicking on the 6-digit code will cause it to be copied into your computer clipboard
  27. On the webpage with the QR code and Secret key, click Next. Microsoft will prompt you to enter the six-digit code from within Authenticator. Enter it and click Next.
  28. The Authenticator extension has been linked to your account. You can now use the application to complete MFA for your account.
  29. Click Set default sign-in method, and in the popup list, select your preferred method for completing MFA.
  30. Your chosen default sign-in method will now be displayed.
  1. Use the Mozilla Firefox web browser on your computer to navigate to the Authenticator extension home page – and click on the button Add to Firefox.
  2. You will be taken to the Mozilla Firefox Add-ons website, with Authenticator already selected and ready to install. Click Add to Firefox.
  3. Mozilla Firefox will prompt you to confirm that you want to add the Authenticator add-on. Click Add.
  4. Once the extension has installed successfully, you will be notified that Authenticator has been added to Mozilla Firefox. Click the Okay. Got it button on the popup to dismiss it.
  5. Now use Mozilla Firefox web browser to navigate to https://aka.ms/mfasetup
  6. You may be asked to log in to Office 365 (if not, you will move straight to step 7). If you are asked to log in to Office 365, enter your Cardiff University email address and click Next.  You will then be redirected to Cardiff University's familiar login screen.  Enter your Cardiff University email address and password as normal and click Log in.
    • Those without a Cardiff University email address (and only a username) will need to enter the username followed by ‘@cardiff.ac.uk’.
  7. If you have not previously set up any MFA methods, then after successfully logging in, you will be prompted that More information is required. Click Next  and skip to step 9. Otherwise you will be taken to the My Sign-ins page where you can review the MFA methods you have already set up so far. Click on Add method.
  8. In the popup dialogue that appears select Authenticator app from the drop down list and then click Add.
  9. You will be presented with a Microsoft Authenticator dialogue which says to start by getting the app. Click I want to use a different authenticator app.
  10. The next screen prompts you to Set up your account. Click Next.
  11. The next screen provides a QR code. Click on Can’t scan image?
  12. A “Secret key” will be displayed, click on the icon of two overlapping files to the right of the Secret key. That will copy the Secret key text ready for pasting.
  13. Click the stylised QR button to the right of the address bar at the top of the browser, and the Authenticator add-on will appear.
  14. Within the Authenticator add-on, click on the icon of a pencil, and then click on the plus icon to add an account.
  15. Click on Manual Entry.
  16. Enter Cardiff University into the Issuer textbox, or alternatively enter another identifier of your choosing that will help you to remember that this entry relates to Cardiff University Office 365 MFA.
  17. Paste the “Secret key” you copied in step 11 into the text box labelled Secret.
  18. Click on Ok.
  19. The Authenticator add-on will show a new entry Cardiff University with a 6-digit code that refreshes every 30 seconds.
  20. Click on the icon of a pencil.
  21. Within the Cardiff University entry, enter your Cardiff University email address into the Username textbox.
    • Those without a Cardiff University email address (and only a username) will need to enter the username followed by ‘@cardiff.ac.uk’.
  22. Click on the tick icon.
  23. You will be asked whether to give the Authenticator add-on the ability to copy the 6-digit code into your computer clipboard. Click Allow.
  24. Clicking on the 6-digit code will cause it to be copied into your computer clipboard
  25. On the webpage with the QR code and Secret key, click Next. Microsoft will prompt you to enter the six-digit code from within Authenticator. Enter it and click Next.
  26. The Authenticator extension has been linked to your account. You can now use the application to complete MFA for your account.
  27. Click Set default sign-in method, and in the popup list, select your preferred method for completing MFA.
  28. Your chosen default sign-in method will now be displayed

Help and support

If you are unable to use your chosen primary or secondary Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) method, you can gain temporary access to set up a new method yourself without contacting IT Support.

Please note this service is available to undergraduate and postgraduate taught students. Staff and postgraduate research students should book an appointment for over-the-phone help with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).

Students

If further support is required, please book an appointment for over-the-phone help with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).

Staff

If further support is required, please book an appointment for over-the-phone help with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).