# First time user account activation

Welcome to Arkansas State University!

Now that you have received your welcome letter with your A-State email address, you can activate your account by setting the password on your account and completing the security authentication methods.

First, let's gets your password setup.

<p class="callout warning">You will need both a computer/tablet and a mobile phone for this process</p>

- From a web browser, visit [www.office.com](https://www.office.com "Microsoft M365 Website") and select **Sign in**.  
    [![singin.png](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/scaled-1680-/singin.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/singin.png)
- <div><div>On the sign in page, select **Can't access your account**.</div></div><div>[![cantaccess.png](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/scaled-1680-/cantaccess.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/cantaccess.png)</div>
- <div><div>If prompted for which type of account, select **Work or school account.**</div><div>**[![accounttype.png](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/scaled-1680-/accounttype.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/accounttype.png)**</div></div><div></div>
- <div><div>Enter your full A-State email address and verify the characters that are shown in the captcha and then click **Next**.</div></div><div>[![enteremailaddress.png](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/scaled-1680-/enteremailaddress.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/enteremailaddress.png)</div><div><div></div></div>
- <div><div>On the verification page, your personal email address on file with A-State has been setup as your alternate email address. Click on **Email** to have a verification code sent to your personal email address. You can change this address after activating your account.</div><div>[![verification.png](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/scaled-1680-/verification.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/verification.png)</div></div>
- <div><div>Enter the verification code that you received and select **Next**.</div><div>[![verification-2.png](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/scaled-1680-/verification-2.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/verification-2.png)</div></div>
- <div><div>Enter your new password, confirm it and select **Finish**.  
    [![newpassword.png](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/scaled-1680-/newpassword.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/newpassword.png)</div></div><p class="callout success">The A-State password requirements must contain:  
    • At least 15 characters and one capital letter, one lowercase letter, one number, and one special character  
    • It also must NOT contain any part of your name or anything too closely related to A-State  
    • It can also be set up as a passphrase</p>
    
    <div><div></div></div>
- Once your password is set, you can sign in and start using your account. Select the **click here** link to sign in.  
    [![finish.png](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/scaled-1680-/finish.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/finish.png)
- Enter your A-State email address and select **Next**.  
    [![step1.png](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/step1.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/step1.png)
- Enter the password for your A-State account and select **Sign in**.  
    [![step2.png](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/step2.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/step2.png)

<p class="callout danger">Please keep your password secure, A-State will never ask you for your password</p>

- After signing in with your password, you will be prompted to set up **Microsoft Authenticator**   
    
    - On the "***Let's keep your account secure"*** screen, click **Next**
    - [![Secure Account - Outlook.png](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/scaled-1680-/secure-account-outlook.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/secure-account-outlook.png)
- - Download the **Microsoft Authenticator app** from either the ***App Store (iPhone/iOS)*** or the ***Play Store (Android)***
        - After you download the **Microsoft Authenticator app** on your phone click **Next**
    - [![MS Authenticator Download Screen.png](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/scaled-1680-/ms-authenticator-download-screen.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/ms-authenticator-download-screen.png)
    - Make sure you **allow** notifications on your phone and then click **Next**
    - [![Notification - MS.png](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/scaled-1680-/notification-ms.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/notification-ms.png)
    - A unique QR code will generate on the next screen 
        - **Be sure to scan the code by using the Microsoft Authenticator app on your phone (select Scan QR code)**
    - [![QR - MS.png](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/scaled-1680-/qr-ms.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/qr-ms.png) [![Mobile - Auth.png](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/scaled-1680-/mobile-auth.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/mobile-auth.png)
    - Once you scan the QR code, click **Next**
    - Microsoft will then generate a random number on the computer, go to your the **Authenticator app** and enter the number you see on screen
    - [![Auth - Number Example.png](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/scaled-1680-/auth-number-example.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/auth-number-example.png)
    - After you enter the number in the app, your A-State account will be successfully linked to your Microsoft Authenticator app, Click **Done**
    - [![Auth - Added.png](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/scaled-1680-/auth-added.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/auth-added.png)
    - The next page will show you have successfully added Microsoft Authenticator as a verification method, along with your personal email or phone number, click **Done** and continue to your Outlook inbox
    - [![Setup Complete - MS.png](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/scaled-1680-/setup-complete-ms.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/setup-complete-ms.png)

- If you are not redirected back to the Microsoft portal or you receive an error message when you are redirected, just close your web browser and reopen it. Then return to [www.office.com](https://www.office.com "Microsoft Office Web site") and sign in. You will not have to repeat the setup process.
- Once you have completed the sign in process, if you are not prompted to complete the setup of additional security authentication methods, select your profile icon in the lower left corner and then click on **View account**.  
    [![step1.png](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/BGqstep1.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/BGqstep1.png)  
    [![step2.png](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/7Jhstep2.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/7Jhstep2.png)
- To add or update your Security information, select **Update Info** on the Security info tile.  
    [![step3.png](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/JXGstep3.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/JXGstep3.png)
- The Security info page will show all the authentication methods currently configured for your account. From here, you can change or delete existing methods or add new ones.   
      
    To change an existing method, select the **Change** option next to the method you would like to change. Selecting **Delete** will remove it from your account.  
    [![step4.png](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/qZistep4.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/qZistep4.png)
- To add new methods to your account, select the **Add sign-in methods**.  
    [![add_an_atuh_method.png](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/add-an-atuh-method.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/add-an-atuh-method.png)
- Select the method you would like to add to your account and follow the prompts to complete the setup. If you want to use an authenticator app (i.e., Duo Mobile, Goole Authenticator, etc.), select the **Microsoft Authenticator** method form the list.  
    [![select_auth_method.png](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/select-auth-method.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/select-auth-method.png)
- You have now completed the setup for your A-State user account and finished the registration of secure information.

<p class="callout info">For further assistance, contact the ITS Help Desk at 870-972-3933 or stop by IT Support Services (<itsupportservices@astate.edu>). It is located on the bottom floor of the Dean B. Ellis Library, Room 149</p>