Microsoft Account App Passwords - Create or Remove

Brink · Apr 19, 2013

Create or Remove App Passwords in your Microsoft Account when Two-Step Verification is Turned On

Information

Microsoft account is the new name for what used to be called a "Windows Live ID." Your Microsoft account is the combination of an email address and a password that you use to sign in to Windows 8 or services like Hotmail, Messenger/Skype, SkyDrive, Windows Phone, Xbox LIVE, Zune, Office Live, and Outlook.com. If you use an email address and password to sign in to these or other services, you already have a Microsoft account—but you can also sign up for a new one at any time.

Two-step verification uses two ways to verify your identity whenever you sign in to your Microsoft account:

Your Microsoft account password
An extra security code

Two-step verification helps protect your account by making it more difficult for a hacker to sign in, even if they've somehow learned your password. If you turn on two-step verification, you'll see an extra page every time you sign in on a device that isn't trusted. The extra page prompts you to enter a security code to sign in. We can send a new security code to your phone or your alternate email address, or you can obtain one through an authenticator app on your smartphone.

Some apps (like the mail apps on some smartphones) or devices (like the Xbox 360, for example) can't prompt you to enter a security code when you try to sign in. If you get an incorrect password error with an app or device, you'll need to create a unique app password to sign in. Once you've signed in with your app password, you're all set to use that app or device. You'll need to create and sign in with an app password once for each app or device that can't prompt you for a security code.

For more information, see:

This tutorial will show you how to remove or create app passwords for your apps or devices that don't support security codes when you have two-step verification turned on for your Microsoft account.

Here's How:

1. Go to the Microsoft account Security info overview webpage.

2. If not already, sign in to your Microsoft account. (see screenshot below)

3. If this PC or device is not a trusted device, then you will be prompted to enter and submit a security code sent to your phone or alternate email address. (see screenshots below)

4. Do step 5 or 6 below for what you would like to do. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: App passwords will not be available unless you have two-step verification turned on.

5. To Create a New App Password for an App or Device

A) Under App passwords, click/tap on Create a new app password. (see screenshot below step 4)

B) Copy or enter the created App password in the password field to sign in, and you're all set for that app or device. (see screenshot below)

6. To Remove All Existing App Passwords from your Microsoft Account

A) Under App passwords, click/tap on Remove existing app passwords. (see screenshot below step 4)

NOTE: Remove existing app passwords will not be available unless you have previously created one or more app passwords in step 5.

B) Click/tap on Remove to confirm. (see screenshot below)

C) All app passwords have now been removed, and will no longer work for the app or device using it.

That's it,
Shawn

Microsoft Account App Passwords - Create or Remove

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