Manage my 2FA account with OneAuth (Authy discontinued)


 

OVERVIEW

Target audience: Anyone who is required, or wants to use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) at McGill, and does not own or have access to a mobile device. 

2FA at McGill is provided by Microsoft, therefore we strongly recommend using the Microsoft Authenticator app for the best experience. However, the Microsoft Authenticator app is only available for mobile devices. OneAuth is a free mobile and desktop app that you can use for 2FA even if you don't have a mobile device. This article provides OneAuth setup instructions for Windows and Mac.

NOTE: OneAuth is only supported by the IT Service Desk on a best efforts basis; for certain issues you may need to  contact OneAuth directly.

In this article:

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IMPORTANT NOTE:

The Authy desktop app for Windows, mac0S and Linux has been discontinued by the vendor and is no longer be supported as an authentication method as of March 18, 2024.

If you have access to either a landline, cellphone, smartphone, or tablet, we strongly recommend setting up your Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) on one of these devices. For instructions on how to update your 2FA settings, go to view and modify 2FA account settings. If you do not have access to any of the mentioned devices, the team has found a secure alternative application for desktop users, called OneAuth. Please follow the instructions below and install the OneAuth application to continue to authenticate using your Windows or Mac device.

Before setting up OneAuth on Windows (signing in/creating an account)

Before downloading the OneAuth application on your Windows desktop, you will need to sign in using either:

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NOTES

If you are using a Mac, you do not need to create a Zoho account and can sign in as a guest. To continue to setup please visit Setting up OneAuth with Mac.

If you do not want to link your social media account as your sign in method, you will need to create a Zoho account. See instructions below.

  1. To create your Zoho account, go to https://www.zoho.com/accounts/oneauth/authenticator-app.html

  2. Click Get Started on the top right.



  3. Enter your email (this can be either your personal email or your McGill email) and password (do not use the same password as your McGill one).

Setting up OneAuth for Windows

  1. Go to https://www.zoho.com/accounts/oneauth/authenticator-app.html and select the Get it from Microsoft button.

  2. Click Download

     

  3. Open the downloaded file and select Run.

     

  4. Open the OneAuth application and click Sign-in.



  5. Sign in using either a) your social media credentials or b) the email used to create your Zoho account that you just created. Click Next.



  6. You will need to confirm your Zoho account. Enter your email used to create your Zoho account and and click Send OTP (One Time Passcode). Match the code that was sent to your email and click Verify.



  7. A message will open, prompting you to let OneAuth access your name, picture, and account information. Select NO.

  8. Select Skip.



  9. Leave the OneAuth application open and follow instructions in Configure OneAuth for Windows and Mac

 

Setting up OneAuth for Mac

  1.  Go to https://www.zoho.com/accounts/oneauth/authenticator-app.html  and select the Download on the Mac App Store icon.

  2. Install app
    Note: you might need to sign in with your Apple ID to download the app.



  3. Once installed, click Open.



  4. Click Sign in as Guest



  5. Leave the OneAuth app open and follow the instructions below in Configuring OneAuth for Windows and Mac.

Configuring OneAuth for Windows and Mac

Note: The configuration the session can time out. Make sure to follow all the steps in one session, or review the steps before beginning, to avoid starting over again.

  1. Go to the Microsoft My Sign-Ins page to update your Microsoft security settings: https://mysignins.microsoft.com/security-info

  2. Click + Add sign in-method button, select Authenticator app, then click Add.


  3. Click on the link I want to use a different authenticator app.



  4. Click on the Can’t scan image? button.



  5. Copy the Secret Key by pressing the Copy icon (you will need to paste this Secret Key into the Secret Key field in the OneAuth app)



  6. Leave the Microsoft My Sign-Ins page open. Go back into the OneAuth application, select OTP Authenticators (on the left-side menu for Windows), or Authenticator (on the bottom menu for Mac).

           

  7. Select Add New > Manual Entry (screenshots for Windows and Mac below)

       

  8. Enter the following information:
    1. Issuer: Microsoft
    2. Username: enter your McGill email (first.lastname@mcgill.ca)
    3. Secret Key: Paste the Secret Key that you copied from the Microsoft My Sign-Ins page
    4. Choose folder: optional

           

  9. Click Done.

  10. Copy the 6-digit time-sensitive code from OneAuth.

     

  11. Go back to the Microsoft My Sign-Ins page. Click Next and Enter the 6 digit code that was generated from the OneAuth app (without spaces), then click Next again.

    screenshot of prompt to enter authentication code

  12. You will get a message that the Authenticator app was successfully registered.

    screenshot of successful registration message

How to authenticate using OneAuth

  1. When signing into one of McGill’s applications, you will receive an authentication prompt after entering your McGill username and password.

  2. Select I can’t use my Microsoft Authenticator app right now.



  3. Select Use a verification code.



  4. Go into the OneAuth app and copy the 6-digit code. Enter the time-sensitive code that has been generated in your OneAuth application into the authenticator prompt. Select Verify. 



Recovering your Zoho account to access OneAuth

If you forget your password, you can reset it and access your Zoho account. To reset your password, you need to have access to your recovery email address or recovery mobile number.

If you don't have access to these, contact the zoho support team at support@zohoaccounts.com to help reset your password.

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