Passwordless Authentication with Microsoft Authenticator App

Introduction

Passwords have always been a major security risk, often leading to phishing, credential theft, and user frustration. To address this, Microsoft introduced passwordless authentication, allowing users to sign in securely and seamlessly without traditional passwords — using the Microsoft Authenticator app instead.

Prerequisites

Before enabling passwordless authentication using Microsoft Authenticator, ensure the following prerequisites are met:

• Microsoft Entra ID tenant

• Microsoft Authenticator app (iOS/Android)

• User registered with Entra ID

• MFA enabled

• Authenticator method allowed in Entra ID settings

• Internet access for approvals

Step 1: Sign in to https://entra.microsoft.com/

Step 2: Navigate to the left-side blade and select Authentication methods then select Policies.

Step 3: Under the Policies, enable Microsoft Authenticator

Note: You can choose to enable passwordless authentication for all users or specific security groups. In my case, I’ve enabled it for all users.

Step 4: Enable MFA using the Microsoft Authenticator app

Step 5: Now, go to the Authenticator app and complete the device registration process.

Step 7: To verify, go to portal.azure.com or entra.microsoft.com, navigate to Entra ID → Devices, and you’ll see your mobile device listed with Microsoft Authenticator enabled.

Step 8: You can now sign in to Microsoft services, such as the Azure portal, without a password by approving the sign-in through the Authenticator app.

Step 9: When you select the “Use an app instead” option, a verification prompt will appear in your Authenticator app, asking you to approve the matching number to complete the sign-in.

Step 10: After approving the request, you’ll be successfully signed into your account.

Conclusion

Passwordless authentication with Microsoft Authenticator enhances security and simplifies access. It removes password risks while offering a fast, secure, and user-friendly sign-in experience aligned with Microsoft’s Zero Trust approach.