Summary
Solano Community College requires multifactor authentication (MFA) on employee and student accounts. This guide explains how to install the Microsoft Authenticator app and add your Solano account. After that, you will create a passkey in the app.
Use this when: You are setting up MFA for the first time, or you are setting up Microsoft Authenticator on a new phone.
Audience: Faculty, staff, and students.
Time required: About 5 minutes.
This is part 1 of 2. After you add your account, continue with Set up a passkey in Microsoft Authenticator.
Before you begin
Make sure you have:
- A supported phone. An iPhone with iOS 17 or later, or an Android phone with Android 14 or later. If you do not have a smartphone, see the "No smartphone?" section below.
- Your Solano username and password. Your username ends in @solano.edu.
- Employees: You receive your username during onboarding.
- Students: Your username is usually your first initial and the first seven letters of your last name. If you have a common last name, part of it may be replaced with numbers. For example, Maria Hernandez signs in as mhernand@solano.edu. Do not use your old @students.solano.edu address.
If you need to reset your password, use FalconNest sign-in: Reset your Solano password (self-service).
- About 10 uninterrupted minutes. Do not begin during a class, meeting, or other activity you cannot pause.
Important: Start setup only from the Microsoft Authenticator app on your phone. The District will never send you a link or QR code by email, text message, or Teams to set up MFA. Help Desk staff will never ask for your password or a verification code.
Follow these steps
- Install Microsoft Authenticator.
Open the App Store on an iPhone or Google Play on an Android phone. Search for Microsoft Authenticator, confirm the publisher is Microsoft Corporation, and install the free app. If you already have the app, update it to the latest version.
- Open the app and allow notifications.
When the app asks, allow notifications so you can receive sign-in requests.
- Add your Solano account.
Tap Add work or school account. If you already use the app, tap + and select Work or school account. Then tap Sign in. Do not choose Scan a QR code unless Help Desk staff are helping you in person.
- Sign in with your username and password.
Enter your Solano username and password. If you are asked to verify your identity, follow the prompt on the screen or approve the request with a method you already use.
- Continue to passkey setup.
When the app asks you to create a passkey, follow Set up a passkey in Microsoft Authenticator.
Confirm it worked
- Open Microsoft Authenticator. Check that your Solano account, ending in @solano.edu, appears in the list of accounts.
Success: Your Solano account appears in Microsoft Authenticator and you are ready to create a passkey.
Approve sign-in requests
If Microsoft Authenticator sends you a notification when you sign in, enter or select the number shown on the sign-in screen, and then select Approve.
Never approve an unexpected request: Select Deny on any notification you did not start, change your password, and report it to the Help Desk. Someone may have your password.
No smartphone?
- Employees: Contact the Help Desk before beginning. After verifying your identity, staff can issue a hardware security key that you insert into your computer each time you sign in. Schedule an appointment with a technician to receive the key and set it up, and bring your laptop.
- Students: Contact the Help Desk to discuss other sign-in options.
If it does not work
You are asked to verify, but you have no way to do it
What to do: Contact the Help Desk. Staff will verify your identity and help you finish setup.
A Microsoft Authenticator notification did not arrive
What to do: Confirm that the phone has internet access and Microsoft Authenticator is allowed to send notifications.
On an iPhone: Open Settings, select Notifications, select Authenticator, and turn on Allow Notifications.
You got a new phone
What to do: Your account and passkey stay on the phone where you set them up. Follow this article and Set up a passkey in Microsoft Authenticator again on your new phone. If your old phone was lost or stolen, contact the Help Desk right away so staff can remove it from your account.
Related articles and guidance
Get help
If you still need help, submit a Password or Login Help request. Choose:
- Account or System: College Computer or Network Account
- Login Problem Type: MFA, verification code, or phone problem
- MFA Issue Type: Other. Enter Authenticator setup in the description.
Protect your information: Never include your password, verification codes, QR codes, Temporary Access Pass, recovery codes, or other secrets in the request.