Signing in to a Lab or Podium Mac When a Passkey Is Registered

Issue/Question

When I sign into a lab or podium Mac with my WKU email address, I see Approve sign in instead of a password prompt. Approving the request in Microsoft Authenticator displays the following error:

Password not set. Verify username mapping in configuration is correct and you are not using passwordless login.

Environment

  • Lab Mac
  • Podium Mac
  • Passkey registered as a Microsoft Entra ID authentication method

Cause

The Mac login window uses Microsoft Entra ID. When a passkey is registered, Microsoft Entra ID offers passkey approval instead of a password prompt. Passkey approval is unsupported on shared lab and podium Macs, so approving the request in Microsoft Authenticator returns an error. This is expected behavior and does not indicate a problem with the Mac or account.

Resolution

  1. Type your WKU email address at the login window.
  2. Do not respond to the Approve sign in prompt in Microsoft Authenticator.
  3. Click Use your password instead.
  4. Type your WKU password.
  5. Press RETURN.
Select Use your password instead each time you sign in to a lab or podium Mac. This does not affect sign-in to your own Mac.

If you need assistance, please contact the ITS Service Desk or submit a service request by clicking the Request Service button.

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Related Services / Offerings (1)

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