Documentation

Enrolling your phone or tablet for Duo 2FA

Created by Unknown User (bjsmith), last modified on 2023-01-10

Duo Mobile is an app that runs on your smartphone and helps you authenticate quickly and easily with Duo two-factor authentication (2FA). You will still be able to log in using a phone call or text message without the app, but for the best experience, we recommend using Duo Mobile with a smartphone.

You can also enroll a landline telephone or iOS/Android tablets.

After you request enrollment and receive an email from Duo Security, follow these steps to enroll your device. 

Step 1: Click Start setup

Click the personalized enrollment link in your email from Duo Security, then click Start setup.

Start setup window showing location of button.

Step 2: Enter your phone number

Select your country from the drop-down list and enter your phone number. Use the number of the smartphone or cell phone that you'll have with you when you're logging in to a Duo-protected service. You can enter your desk phone number if you don’t have a cell phone.

Double-check the phone number to make sure you entered it correctly, check the box to confirm that the number is correct, and click Continue. (If you are enrolling a tablet, you aren't prompted to enter a phone number.)

Form for entering your phone number, confirming that it is correct, and a button for continuing.

Step 3: Choose your platform

Choose the type of phone you have and click Continue.

A screen for identifying your phone as either iPhone, Android, Windows Phone or other.

Step 4: Install the Duo Mobile app

Follow the platform-specific instructions on the screen to install Duo Mobile. After installing the app, return to the enrollment window and click I have Duo Mobile installed.

A screen instructing you to install the Duo Mobile app and a button to confirm that you have installed it.

Step 5: Activate Duo Mobile

Activating the app links it to your account so you can use it for authentication.

To activate Duo Mobile on an iPhone, Android, or Windows Phone, scan the barcode with the app's built-in barcode scanner. Follow the platform-specific instructions for your device.

Screen with a barcode to scan and a link to request an activation link by email instead.

The "Continue" button is clickable after you scan the barcode.

If you can’t scan the barcode, click Email me an activation link instead and follow the instructions.

A screen with a checkmark indicating the barcode was scanned.

Step 6: Configure device options (optional)

By default Duo will ask you to choose how you want to authenticate each time you log in – with a push, phone call, or passcode, for example. The default is recommended, but you can change the setting so you automatically receive a push or a call instead of being asked every time. To do that, make your selection from the dropdown menu and click Saved.

A screen showing choices for how to authenticate when logging in with Duo.

Step 7: Finish

Choose an optional authentication method from the “When I log in” dropdown menu, then click Finish Enrollment.

Duo automatically sends an authentication request via a push notification to the Duo Mobile app on your smartphone or a phone call to your device (depending on your selection).

Window showing location of button described above.

Congratulations!

Your device is ready to approve Duo push authentication requests. Click Send me a Push to give it a try. All you need to do is tap Approve on the Duo login request you get on your phone.