Let’s get your school account and apps ready — about 15 minutes.
School accounts, email, and apps at PCI are powered by Microsoft 365.
Have these handy before you begin. The whole process should take about 15 minutes.
Item 1
Your school email and temporary password — both are in your welcome email from the office.
Item 2
iPhone or Android — required for the Authenticator app and sign-in security.
Item 3
Windows, Mac, or iPad — whatever you’ll use for class.
Your username
Example: a senior graduating in 2027 named Jane Doe would use jane.doe.27@pacificcrestinstitute.com.
Staff & faculty: your username has no graduation year — it’s simply the school email address the office gave you.
Do this on your computer or tablet, with your phone nearby. You’ll install the Microsoft Authenticator app partway through — right when the sign-in asks for it.
Don’t set up Authenticator ahead of time.
If you install the app and add your school account from inside it, Microsoft won’t recognize it when Teams or OneNote asks for verification — and you’d have to remove the account and start over. Follow the numbered steps below and add your account only by scanning the QR code.
On your computer, open any web browser and visit office.com, then click Sign in.
Your school email address — it’s in your welcome email from the office. For students it looks like this:firstname.lastname.YY
This came from the PCI office (in your welcome email, or handed to you directly). You’ll be asked to change it right away.
Pick something you’ll remember. Write it down somewhere safe.
Microsoft will say “More information required” and walk you toward a screen with a QR code. Choose Microsoft Authenticator if it asks, and leave that screen open on your computer.
Search “Microsoft Authenticator” in your phone’s app store (or use these links if you’re reading this on your phone) and install it. Just install it — don’t add an account from inside the app.App Store (iPhone)Google Play (Android)
In Authenticator, tap + → Work or school account → Scan QR code, and point your camera at the QR code on your computer screen.
Your computer will show a number. Open the notification on your phone, tap that number, and approve. You’re signed in — and every future verification is one tap in this same app.
If you ran into trouble, the office can help — see the bottom of this page.
Sign in to each app with your full school email and the new password you just set. If an app asks you to verify, approve it in Authenticator — one tap.
Pick your computer above to see the install links.
Authenticator is already on your phone from Step 1. These three keep you in the loop when you’re away from your computer.
Pick your phone above to see the install links.
Finish the steps above and you’ll be ready for class. Your progress is saved on this device, so you can come back to this page anytime.
The PCI office is happy to help. Stop by, call, or send us an email and we’ll walk you through it.
