Across Melbourne, people are meeting Microsoft's new passkey screens for the first time — usually at the worst possible moment. This is the quick summary. Our full guides, written by the wider Geeks team, go step by step for each device.
1. Which Date Applies to You
| If your account is… | Then… |
|---|---|
| Work or school (business Microsoft 365) | Passkeys switched on by default from 1 September 2026. Microsoft-provided SMS and call codes retire on 1 February 2027 (1 July 2027 for Global Admins and external users). |
| Personal (Outlook.com, Hotmail, Xbox) | SMS is being phased out with no published end date. Many accounts already can't add a new phone number. |
Microsoft says business users won't simply be locked out on the date. Anyone whose only method is a text or call gets a passkey setup screen they can't skip — and that's where people without a suitable device get stuck.
2. Five Things to Do Now
- Add a passkey while your text codes still work.
- Add a second way in — a recovery email, or a passkey on a second device.
- Don't remove your phone number until the new methods work.
- Make sure your phone and computer have a screen lock (passkeys need one).
- Changing phones? Keep the old one until every account works on the new one.
3. Step-by-Step Guides
- What is a passkey? The full overview
- Microsoft passkey setup: personal vs work account
- Moving Microsoft Authenticator to a new phone
- Passkeys on iPhone, iPad and Mac
- Passkeys on Android and Google
- myGov passkeys and codes
- Locked out of Microsoft with no one to call
These guides are hosted on our Geeks Brisbane guide site and apply anywhere in Australia.
4. Help in Melbourne
If you'd rather not do this alone, we help people across Melbourne — including Box Hill, Footscray, Frankston, Dandenong and Preston — set up passkeys and backup sign-ins remotely or at home. Already locked out? Read how we help locked-out Melbourne clients.
Remote support is $125/hr and an onsite visit is $205/hr, with a one-hour minimum. You'll know the cost before we start.
Sources
Microsoft Learn — Passkeys by default and retirement of Microsoft-provided SMS and voice authentication and its FAQ · Microsoft Support — Microsoft to stop sending SMS codes for personal accounts. Checked 11 October 2026.