Microsoft revises log-ins and registrations

The company wants to create a new "sign-in experience" for billions of Microsoft accounts. At the end of April, changes are to come into force for most Microsoft account holders, bringing new, modern, simpler log-in and sign-in dialogs for Windows, Xbox, Microsoft 365 and other services.

In a blog post by the Microsoft Entra team, the authors explain that the decision to overhaul logins was made as a result of the sometimes different "user experiences" for cloud services and Windows, as well as the introduction of Passkeys. The new user guidance and visuals – which is behind the term "experience" – are based on Microsoft's "Fluent 2" design language. The developers have also made some changes to the dialog flow in order to reduce incorrect use.

Streamlining

The developers are proud of the streamlined and modern design. The number of options on the individual dialogs has been reduced in order to reduce the cognitive load and speed up the authentication process. By rearranging some steps, the flow of logic has been improved.

In the same breath, the programmers have added the frequently requested support for themes that also enable a dark mode. This will first be visible in gaming apps, with other end user apps to follow in the future.

The biometric login dialog with the options of facial recognition, fingerprint or PIN has also been redesigned.

Simplified new login for services

When signing in to a Microsoft service with an existing email address, a kind of recovery process will now run instead of setting up a new password, which could quickly be forgotten or guessed by attackers. It is now sufficient to confirm the e-mail address with a one-time code from the Authenticator or with Passkey. This also becomes the default login and users start the new service "passwordless". Account recovery is then also possible simply using the email address, as is moving to a new device. Microsoft now also wants to ask more frequently at this point whether a passkey should be created.

Xbox users can already enjoy the new "Fluent Design". Microsoft has already been introducing the new log-ins with A/B testing since February and has noticed a positive impact of the new "user experience". The further roll-out for Microsoft's end user offerings will take place in waves in March and April. Web and mobile apps will be the first. For Microsoft Entra accounts, i.e. work and school access, nothing will change yet. However, experience with end users should also help to improve Entra IDs.

Microsoft is constantly working on improving the user experience. Last November, for example, the Redmond-based company tested a revised Windows Hello login in the Windows Insider versions. Here, too, the aim was to provide more order and enable modern operation through the additional passkey option, for example.

(dmk)