Difficulty signing into Microsoft account a lot

Hazel123 · Oct 15, 2025

Sorry if this is in the wrong section - wasn't sure which one.

So for a while now it's been a total pain trying to sign into my Microsoft Account (or web email). Because it insists on some other form of security - iphone, ipad, security key or something else). A few clicks later I finally get to enter my password - and it then fails. Now there are two of us use this computer so my OH's email also gets signed into as well. MS doesn't seem to like two different sign ins on the same computer. I invariably have to end up signing in on my phone! Which has a passcode (which the phone set I think) and squinting at a small screen.

Is there any way to make this easier on my laptop? I don't want to use my phone to sign in on my laptop. I don't have an ipad. And neither do I want to sign in to Amazon with my Microsoft Pin!

dacrone · Oct 15, 2025

create separate profiles on the browser or use different browsers completely. yeah outlook web is a complete pita and has had this issue for years but Microsoft refuses to address it

antspants · Oct 15, 2025

I have 7 Microsoft accounts. I have zero issues signing into any of them.

Have you considered using the Microsoft Authenticator App just for Microsoft accounts? All I have to do is see what number the sign in shows on the web and click the same number on my iPhone/phone.

There are also 4 other methods to authenticate in the app I have setup to use.

Hazel123 · Oct 15, 2025

I have the authenticator app yes, but it doesn't even ask for that a lot of the time now it just wants a passcode thing or my iphone (or ipad which I don't have). I can only assume they know I have an iphone because I've logged in with it before.

antspants · Oct 15, 2025

I’ll find some time to look into why I can stipulate which sign in method I use, Hazel. I have been clicking the corresponding number on my iPhone for so long I can’t remember how it defaults to that sign in method first.

You can setup new ways to sign in, within the app itself.
“send a sign-in notification” is what I get defaulted to.

Screenshot 2025-10-16 at 7.45.49 am.webp

Hazel123 · Oct 15, 2025

Well it actually worked this time, but this is what I get when I enter my email address (first screenshot). It didn't even ask me for a passkey and I don't have one.

So I then click on "Sign in another way" and get this

I don't have face recognition, fingerprint option or a security key and don't want to use my Pin - although on one occasion I did select that option and didn't get as far as my pin before it failed. So at this stage I click "Use your password".

Then either it fails at that point, or it lets me enter my password and then fails - can't remember the message I get. There is nothing wrong with my password by the way. And it did just work this time, but it's pretty much pot luck whether it will work or not from one day to the next. Once signed in with my password (if it doesn't fail) it then asks for the authenticator code (if I actually get that far).

What I'd like is to get rid of all the other options and just sign in with my password - which is saved in my password manager.

antspants · Oct 15, 2025

Open the Microsoft Authenticator App.
Click/tap on your Microsoft account
At the bottom, click/tap on “Update how you sign in or verify”
Verify your identity
Under “Ways to prove who you are” Select “Send a sign in notification” and add it to your authentication methods

See how you go.

antspants · Oct 15, 2025

Hazel123 said:
What I'd like is to get rid of all the other options and just sign in with my password - which is saved in my password manager

Open the Microsoft Authenticator App.
Click/tap on your Microsoft account
At the bottom, click/tap on “Update how you sign in or verify”
Verify your identity
Under “Ways to prove who you are” click/tap on an authentication method that you don’t want to use
Click “Remove”

antspants · Oct 15, 2025

antspants · Oct 15, 2025

I would advise that you have at min 2 ways to sign in. I have seen, too many times, members forget or have trouble using their password.

TraderGary · Oct 15, 2025

Hazel123 said:
Sorry if this is in the wrong section - wasn't sure which one.

So for a while now it's been a total pain trying to sign into my Microsoft Account (or web email). Because it insists on some other form of security - iphone, ipad, security key or something else). A few clicks later I finally get to enter my password - and it then fails. Now there are two of us use this computer so my OH's email also gets signed into as well. MS doesn't seem to like two different sign ins on the same computer. I invariably have to end up signing in on my phone! Which has a passcode (which the phone set I think) and squinting at a small screen.

Is there any way to make this easier on my laptop? I don't want to use my phone to sign in on my laptop. I don't have an ipad. And neither do I want to sign in to Amazon with my Microsoft Pin!

Some time ago I set my Microsoft Account to be passwordless and I've deleted my Microsoft Account password. I sign in to my Microsoft Account with either Windows Hello or a Passkey, my choice.

Hazel123 · Oct 15, 2025

I have no idea how to set a passkey! The only passkey is on my phone. The only Windows Hello I have is my pin. Is there somewhere in MS settings I can set how I sign in? In Windows settings I have Windows Hello (Pin) and password - that's all.

But it still doesn't like two different people signing into two different MS accounts on the same device. After signing in to one, it blocks the other for a couple of days.

antspants · Oct 15, 2025

Hazel123 said:
MS settings I can set how I sign in? In Windows settings I have Windows Hello (Pin) and password - that's all.

Have you read nothing of what I have replied with?

antspants · Oct 15, 2025

Hazel123 · Oct 15, 2025

Sorry - it's late here.

I have this in my MS Account - note that the only passkey is on my phone - not my laptop! And that I have passwordless account turned OFF.

Hazel123 · Oct 15, 2025

I'm not sure I want to add new ways - I'm quite happy signing in with password from my password manager and using authenticator - which is showing as up to date. I think the issue is that it knows I have a Passkey on my phone and it fails because I'm not on my phone!

Hazel123 · Oct 15, 2025

Anyway it's annoying and tedious - security settings fail for both of us trying to login regularly. I would rather lose a password (and re-set it) than lose a passkey or be tied to a device with a passkey.

PBzeer · Oct 15, 2025

Make sure neither of you is signed in to your MS account from the laptop, then try signing in.

Difficulty signing into Microsoft account a lot

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computer

Like a rolling drone.

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Like a rolling drone.

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Like a rolling drone.

My Computers

Like a rolling drone.

My Computers

Like a rolling drone.

My Computers

Like a rolling drone.

My Computers

Stock Market Wizard

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Like a rolling drone.

My Computers

Like a rolling drone.

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Active member

My Computers

Similar threads