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Article Summary
When signing in to College Microsoft services, such as Outlook or Teams, you may see a prompt asking you to create a passkey.
- Microsoft began rolling out passkey registration prompts on September 1, 2026, for users enabled for text message or phone call multi-factor authentication (MFA). Whether you see the prompt depends on your account and the College’s settings.
- A passkey lets you sign in using a device you control and its face recognition, fingerprint, or PIN. It helps protect your account against phishing. Your biometric information stays on your device and is not shared with Microsoft.
Applies To
Employees, Students
How to Postpone Setup or Set Up a Passkey
Option 1: Postpone setting up a passkey
If you are not ready to set up a passkey:
1. Sign in to your College account and complete your usual verification.
2. When the passkey setup prompt appears, select Skip / Not now if available.
3. Continue to your application.
You may receive the prompt again later. Skipping postpones setup; it does not permanently disable the prompt. The number of times you can skip depends on the applicable settings. If Skip / Not now is unavailable or you cannot proceed, contact Technical Support for assistance.
Option 2: Set up a passkey
Use a device you control and a storage option approved by the College. Avoid saving your passkey to a shared classroom, lab, kiosk, or public computer.
When prompted during sign-in:
1. Select Next on the passkey setup screen.
2. Review where the passkey will be saved. If needed and available, choose a different approved location.
3. Follow the instructions to verify your identity using your face, fingerprint, or device PIN.
4. Give the passkey a recognizable name when prompted.
5. Select Done after the confirmation appears.
To set one up later:
1. Open Microsoft Security info.
2. Sign in using your College work or school account.
3. Select Add sign-in method.
4. Choose Passkey or Passkey in Microsoft Authenticator, if available.
5. Follow the instructions for the approved device or storage option you selected.
6. Available choices vary by device and College settings. If your screen does not show these options, contact Technical Support.
What happens the next time I sign in?
Follow the sign-in prompts to use your saved passkey and unlock it with your face, fingerprint, or device PIN. If using a passkey stored on your phone to sign in on a computer, you may be asked to scan a QR code and enable Bluetooth. Only scan a sign-in code for a session you initiated.
Important Reminders
- Keep your existing verification methods until Technical Support advises otherwise.
- If you lose or replace the device holding your passkey, contact Technical Support for recovery assistance.
- If you cannot use a personal phone, ask Technical Support about available alternatives.
- Text-message and phone-call verification are changing: Microsoft plans to retire its own delivery service for most users on February 1, 2027. Users whose only available verification method is text or phone may then face mandatory passkey registration unless the organization has arranged a supported alternative. Postponing setup should not be treated as a permanent solution.
Additional Information / Need More Help?
Contact San Jacinto College Technical Support:
When requesting help with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), include the message you see and whether you are using a computer, iPhone, or Android device. Never include your password, device PIN, or verification codes.
Tech Support Contact Information & Hours