How to Setup Google Voice And use as an Authentication Method

To start, can you first setup a google voice by going to the following website: https://voice.google.com/about

please note, you will need to have an active google account or gmail to sign up for this service

1. Select personal use

2. Select web in the drop down

Uploaded Image (Thumbnail)

3. sign into your google account(If you do not have an active google account you can create one here, select "Create Account" on the bottom)
4. You will then be prompted to select a google voice number, select desired city, area code, or select from the "nearby cities" drop down and you will be given a selection of number to chose from.

Uploaded Image (Thumbnail)

5. Once a number has been selected, you will need to verify an existing number, either by text or phone call

Uploaded Image (Thumbnail)

6. Enter the code sent to the number entered in step 5 and google voice is now setup.

 

To use Google Voice as an authentication method follow the instructions below:

 

1. Go to the following site: https://mysignins.microsoft.com/security-info

2. You should be brought to a page that says 'My Sign-Ins' at the top. Below that should be a section that has a list of authentication methods if you have other methods, if not this should be empty.

6. Select the plus symbol that has the text 'Add Method' next to it.

Uploaded Image (Thumbnail)

7. In the pop-up window you are going to select 'Phone'

7a. If you do not have the option to select 'Phone' you may have an authentication method that is already used as a 'Phone', to change this you will need to delete the other authentication method that is labeled as 'Phone' and retry selecting phone again.

7b. Or you may select alternate phone if you wish to keep the other authentication method as 'Phone'.

8. After 'Phone' or 'Alternate phone' is selectedtype in the google voice number and select 'Next', which will begin to call your google voice number. (please note, to mitigate any issues in the setup process please have your google voice page/account ready to receive the call)

9. Once your google voice is being called, press 1 and then the pound key.

 

NOTE: It is recommended to use the Text message feature within Google Voice to receive notification codes for MFA. Microsoft has begun limiting the number of phone calls for MFA verification which can leave you unable to authenticate once you reach that limit. These text messages will be sent to your gmail account that you used to sign into google voice.

 

If you have any issues with this process please feel free to call 518-255-5831