Solved Passwordless Microsoft Account


Keith Weisshar

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Location
Hazlet, NJ
OS
Windows 11 Pro
What would happen if I have both Two Step Verification and Passwordless Account turned on in the Microsoft Account and I lose access to the Microsoft Authenticator app such as app deletion, factory reset, or lost device? Do I need to have at least two or three pieces of security info before turning on both Two Step Verification and Passwordless Account? I also have a 5x5 Recovery Code printed and kept in a safe location as well. Will a Yubikey work as a backup in case I lose access to the Authenticator app?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Digital Storm
    CPU
    Intel Core i9 9900K 3.8GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Z390 Maximus XI Hero Wi-Fi
    Memory
    16GB DDR4 2666MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA RTX 2060
    Sound Card
    Realtek Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS VG-245H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB
    PSU
    850W
    Case
    Cooler Master HAF-932
    Cooling
    Air
    Keyboard
    Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro
    Mouse
    Razer Cobra Pro
    Internet Speed
    Gigabit
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Security
The authenticator app should have the option to backup the contents - the iOS version does - so after uninstalling the app or installing on a new device I would choose recovery, sign in to my Microsoft account & it recovers the entries.
When you turn on 2FA the app/site will recommend you backup the recovery codes so you can log in if the authenticator app doesn’t work for some reason. I would certainly do this.
I can’t comment on Yubikey as I’ve never used that.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 64bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    PC Specialist Optimus VII V17-960 Gaming Laptop.
    CPU
    6th Gen Intel Core i7-6700HQ Quad Core processor.
    Memory
    16GB HyperX IMPACT 1600MHz SODIMM DDR3 (2 x 8GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 960M - 2.0GB DDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 12
    Sound Card
    Intel 2 Channel High Def. Audio + SoundBlaster™ Cinema 2 & Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Optimus Series: 17.3" Matte Full HD IPS LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
    Screen Resolution
    Full HD IPS display (1920 x 1080).
    Hard Drives
    4TB SSD (internal).
    1x 1TB & 1x 5TB external HDDs.
    Cooling
    STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800 wireless keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech M705 wireless mouse
    Internet Speed
    Upto 100Mbps
    Browser
    Edge.
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender & MalwareBytes pro.
You can enter your cellphone number and have sms as a backup. You can also provide a second e-mail address as alternative verification step.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
    Motherboard
    Asus ROG Strix X570-F Gaming
    Memory
    Corsair Vengeance LPX CMK32GX4M2B3200C16 (64 GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus ROG Strix 2080Ti
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster ZxR
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Dell UltraSharp U2413f
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200
    Hard Drives
    Corsair Force MP510 M.2 NVME SSD (960 GB)
    Seagate Barracuda Pro (12TB, 3.5")
    Seagate Exos X12 512E (12TB, 3.5")
    Corsair Force MP510 M.2 NVME SSD (1788 GB)
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Ultra Platinum (1000 W)
    Case
    Corsair Obsidian 750D
    Cooling
    Deepcool GamerStorm Captain 240 Pro (12cm)
    Keyboard
    Logitech G910
    Mouse
    Logitech G502
    Internet Speed
    1000 Mbit/s (synchronous)
    Browser
    Firefox, Vivaldi
    Antivirus
    GDATA Internet Security

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 3600 & No fTPM (07/19)
    Motherboard
    MSI B450 TOMAHAWK 7C02v1E & IFX TPM (07/19)
    Memory
    4x 8GB ADATA XPG GAMMIX D10 DDR4 3200MHz CL16
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI Radeon RX 580 ARMOR 8G OC @48FPS (08/19)
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Z (11/16)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" AOC G2460VQ6 (01/19)
    Screen Resolution
    1920×1080@75Hz & FreeSync (DisplayPort)
    Hard Drives
    ADATA XPG GAMMIX S11 Pro SSD 512GB (07/19)
    PSU
    Seasonic M12II-520 80 Plus Bronze (11/16)
    Case
    Lian Li PC-7NB & 3x Noctua NF-S12A FLX@700rpm (11/16)
    Cooling
    CPU Cooler Noctua NH-U12S@700rpm (07/19)
    Keyboard
    HP Wired Desktop 320K + Rabalux 76017 Parker (01/24)
    Mouse
    Logitech M330 Silent Plus (04/23)
    Internet Speed
    400/40 Mbps via RouterOS (05/21) & TCP Optimizer
    Browser
    Edge (No FB/Google) & Brave for YouTube & LibreWolf for FB
    Antivirus
    NoAV & Binisoft WFC & NextDNS
    Other Info
    Headphones: Sennheiser RS170 (09/10)
    Phone: Samsung Galaxy Xcover 7 (02/24)
I don't have a cell phone, only an alternate iCloud email address on my iPad.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Digital Storm
    CPU
    Intel Core i9 9900K 3.8GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Z390 Maximus XI Hero Wi-Fi
    Memory
    16GB DDR4 2666MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA RTX 2060
    Sound Card
    Realtek Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS VG-245H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB
    PSU
    850W
    Case
    Cooler Master HAF-932
    Cooling
    Air
    Keyboard
    Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro
    Mouse
    Razer Cobra Pro
    Internet Speed
    Gigabit
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Security
Use a single very tough password, if you have no other means to verify your account.
Even though a password can be hacked, I would not go passwordless on my MA.

 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Skylake Special X299
    CPU
    Intel Core i9 9900X
    Motherboard
    Asus ROG Strix X299-E Gaming II
    Memory
    GSkill Trident Z RGB 32GB 3600 16-16-16-36 (F4-3600C16Q-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA RTX 3080 12GB FTW3 Ultra Gaming (12G-P5-4877-KL)
    Sound Card
    Supreme FX
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus PG279Q
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440 165Hz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 980 Pro 500GB x2, Seagate Barracuda 4TB x2, Western Digital Black 4TB x1
    PSU
    EVGA 1200 P2, EVGA Black Custom Braided Cables
    Case
    Thermaltake View 31 Tempered Glass Limited Edition
    Cooling
    Corsair H115i, Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut
    Keyboard
    Logitech G910 Orion Spark
    Mouse
    Logitech G700s, Asus ROG GX860 Buzzard
    Internet Speed
    Verizon Fios Quantum Gateway 75/75
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, Malwarebytes 4.5.2
    Other Info
    Thermaltake Riing Duo 14 x3, Thermaltake Riing Plus 14 x2, Corsair HS70 Pro Wireless Headset
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Skylake Special Z170
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 6700K
    Motherboard
    Asus Sabertooth Z170 Mark 1
    Memory
    GSkill Trident Z RGB 16GB 3600 16-16-16-36 (F4-3600C16D-16GTZR)
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA GTX 980 Ti SC x2, EVGA Pro SLI Bridge
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC G2460PG
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080 144Hz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 870 Evo 500GB, Seagate Barracuda 4TB x2
    PSU
    EVGA 1000 P2, EVGA White Custom Braided Cables
    Case
    Corsair Vengeance C70 Gunmetal Black
    Cooling
    Corsair H100i v2, Corsair ML120 x2, Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut
    Mouse
    Logitech G500s
    Keyboard
    Logitech G910 Orion Spectrum
    Internet Speed
    Verizon Fios Quantum Gateway 75/75
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, Malwarebytes 4.5.2
    Other Info
    Corsair SP120 x4, LG Blu-ray Drive, Durabrand HT-395 100 Watt Dolby Digital Amp
My limited experience with MS Authenticator led me to believe it's not ready for widespread use, yet.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Professional
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microcenter B677
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-9400
    Motherboard
    ASRock H310CM-HDV/M.2
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Intel Kaby Lake - High Definition Audio / cAVS (Audio, Voice, Speech) [A0]
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Model: GSM59F1
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1080
    Case
    Lian Li 205M
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky AV

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