Microsoft Update Affecting Duo Login Experience

Microsoft has announced a mandatory security update that will go live the evening of Sept. 12, 2025, affecting how you log in across the Microsoft 365 environment. This change adds one extra step before you reach the Duo Universal Prompt and is required to improve security and meet new two-factor authentication standards.

What's Changing

The update introduces one additional step in the two-factor authentication process. Starting the evening of Sept. 12, you will need to click "Approve with Cisco Duo" before proceeding to the Duo Universal Prompt as usual. The changes include:

1. A new Microsoft prompt will appear during the login process.
2. You will click the first option, "Approve with Cisco Duo," before completing Duo verification.
3. After clicking, you will see the usual Duo Universal Prompt to complete authentication as normal.

What's Staying the Same

Your Duo settings and setup will not be affected by this update. Additionally, this change does not affect how you log in to certain internal applications, such as the UNCW VPN, Remote Desktop, Horizon, etc. Everything else about your login process, including your preferred Duo methods, will remain the same.

Action You May Need to Take

After the update, you may be prompted to sign back in to Microsoft apps such as Teams, Outlook and other Microsoft services.

Helpful Tip

If you have registered SMS or phone call options for password reset, they may appear as authentication choices. However, Duo remains the most secure method, and we recommend using it whenever possible.

Need help setting up Duo Mobile? Check out our step-by-step knowledge base article, How do I Set up Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) with Duo Mobile on my UNCW Account?