Multi-Factor Authentication for Students

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a security process that requires users to provide both a password and a second form of authentication – typically a one-time use code – to access a website or account. 

You might be familiar with MFA through your bank’s website or another online account. 

When you sign in to an MFA-protected LCC system, a verification will be requested by the Duo phone app. An alert will come through your phone asking if you are attempting to sign in to an LCC system. You can approve or deny the request on your phone via the Duo Mobile app. 

Important note: Never approve a login request that you didn’t initiate!

Yes, multi-factor authentication is required for all students.

Adding multi-factor authentication to student accounts strengthens the data security safeguards already in place to protect personal information. 

When you enter your username and password in an MFA-protected system – like D2L or Banner – your screen will respond with a six-digit code. Open your smartphone’s Duo Mobile app and enter the code

In this example, you would enter 641641 into your app.

Yes, you will use Duo multi-factor authentication anywhere you log in at LCC, including D2L.

Duo will prompt once when you first sign in, and then “remember” you (unless you change browsers) for the next 12 hours.

If you restart or change your browser or computer, you may be prompted to use Duo again.

Contact the Help Desk at lcc1@star.lcc.edu or 517-483-5221.

You might find this end-user guide helpful, or this end-user enrollment guide. You can access additional information and troubleshooting articles in Duo’s Knowledge Base.

If you used the Duo Mobile app to scan the QR code and it lists your account in the Duo Mobile App as Lansing Community College, then your account is linked to LCC. There is no need to enter your username/password. The link in the security enrollment email has a unique identifier tied to you. 

When installing the Duo Mobile app and enrolling your account, you will notice the organization name is “Lansing Community College.” Use your username or email for your account name. 

Yes, you can use the same app for multiple accounts.

If you already have the Duo Mobile App, simply open the app and press the (+) icon to scan the QR code and add your LCC account.

You can use Duo authentication when traveling internationally or if you live outside of the U.S., unless you are traveling to or live in a U.S.-embargoed country.

Additional info can be found in Duo’s Travel Guide.

If your phone does not have data or Wi-Fi when you sign into an MFA-enforced system, your Duo Mobile app may not receive the request for the MFA code. On your computer, you can select “other options” on the Duo MFA prompt and select “Duo Mobile Passcode.” Next, open your smartphone’s Duo Mobile app and it will display the passcode to complete the MFA process.

Duo Mobile cannot read your emails/texts or track your location, and it cannot see your browser history or pictures. Duo Mobile cannot remotely wipe your phone.

In general, Duo Mobile cannot access things like your contacts, photos, text messages or emails. However, Duo does have a few device data permissions that they request to help make multi-factor authentication easier for you, such as the permission to send push notifications.

You can read Duo’s privacy information for more details, or browse the articles about what device permissions it needs for Android and for iOS.

The iOS app requires about 10 MB of free space and the Android app requires about 30 MB of free space.

A data plan is not required for your device. You can use Duo Mobile over a Wi-Fi-only connection.

Yes, Duo push notifications use a small amount of data.

Five hundred pushes to your device will use one MB (1/1,000 of a GB) of data. This is roughly equivalent to loading one webpage on your smartphone.

Yes. Check out these resources:

• Apple Watch and Duo Mobile end-user guide
• Is there a Duo Mobile app for Android smartwatches?
• Why can't I approve Duo Push authentications with my Android smartwatch or other wearable device?

If you get a new phone, you should register it for Duo authentication as soon as possible.

Contact LCC’s Help Desk (lcc1@lcc.edu or 517-483-5221) to get a one-time, emergency bypass code (a six-digit number to get you into MFA), which will allow you to verify your identity as you add a new phone.

After you get the new phone, if possible, have the Duo Mobile app transferred over from your old phone (presuming you are using the same phone number and same phone operating system), or download the Duo Mobile app from the App Store.

In a browser, go to my.lcc.edu (or any MFA-enforced system) and sign in. When asked for MFA, select “other options/manage authentication methods,” verify your identity using the “Bypass Code” and then proceed to add the new phone.

You may need to delete the old phone from your MFA account in the Duo Mobile app.

As an alternative, if you get a new phone, first download the Duo Mobile App (if you haven’t transferred all of your apps) from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Then contact the LCC Help Desk (lcc1@lcc.edu or 517-483-5221) with your smartphone’s phone number and they will text you an activation link that connects your new phone to your LCC account. You can then use your new phone for MFA.

Contact the Help Desk (lcc1@lcc.edu or 517-483-5221) to get a one-time, emergency bypass code that can be used until you find, charge or acquire your phone.

Your Duo account can lock after multiple failed authentication attempts.

If lockout occurs, you must wait 15 minutes after the most recent authentication attempt. If you continue to experience issues after 15 minutes, please contact the LCC Help Desk (lcc1@lcc.edu or 517-483-5221) for support.

After users deny a Duo login request, marking it as fraudulent, Duo push notifications to access that application will be paused for 20 minutes. Users will need to open the Duo Mobile app to approve a Duo login request.

For iPhones, check this help page. For Androids, check this help page.

First, make sure you are trying to load the right app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. This is what the app logo looks like:

Second, ensure you have a supported operating system.

• The current version of Duo Mobile supports iOS 16.0 or greater and Android 11.0 or greater. Duo recommends upgrading to the most recent version of Android available for your device. 
• Starting on April 16, 2026, Duo will end support for Duo Mobile on Android 11. At that time, Android 12 will become the oldest supported version. 

Third, ensure you have enough free storage space on your device for the Duo Mobile App.

• Make sure there is at least a few hundred MB of storage available on your device.
• If you are seeing an error message that reads "Something went wrong, try again" while installing Duo Mobile from the Google Play Store, read this help article.

Fourth, follow the install prompts and approve access/install.

• If it’s not working correctly, reboot your phone and attempt the install again.
• Additional information and troubleshooting articles are available in the Duo Knowledge Base.

Finally, if the Duo Mobile App won’t load after troubleshooting, contact the LCC Help Desk (lcc1@lcc.edu) for assistance.

Contact the LCC Help Desk at lcc1@star.lcc.edu or 517-483-5221. Online chat is also available 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday.