Adding custom instructions to M365 Copilot
I’ve been refining my personal “custom instructions” in M365 Copilot for my work account. I appreciate putting my thumb on the scale of how Copilot responds. 90% of the time it’s great, but occasionally it’ll have some quirky results when those instructions combine with a selected Agent.
Would like to have an “incognito” option to turn my custom instructions off for a single conversation.
Got a backlog of books marked as finished. I’ve had some issues with the Bookshelf app on Android since moving to my new phone. Hoping it’s a temporary thing but may need to post a support request if it persists.
Finished reading: The Survivor by Vince Flynn π
Finished reading: To Die For by David Baldacci π
Finished reading: Bloody Genius by John Sandford π
Finished reading: The Last Man by Vince Flynn π
Finished reading: Lethal Prey by John Sandford π
Got to try Mount 2 Coast T1 trail shoes at a demo run tonight. Felt pretty good, though I started out with the lower laces too loose.
Getting out to Afton State Park for a run this morning. The sun is peeking through the clouds, thinking about saying hello. ππ€οΈ
I’m thinking of dusting off my “memories vault” project and using Obsidian as the front end. I think it should work pretty smoothly. Gonna think on it some more, but go for it before the new year.
Still feeling the sting of the Gopher football loss last night. Winnable game, but multiple special teams gaffes, dropped passes, and soft coverage cost us our chances.
Now on to the bye week then Homecoming against the Scarlett Knights.
RAH!γ½οΈ
Restoring MS Authenticator on a new device
Over the past month, I had to switch phones twiceβonce due to a hardware issue (phone no longer turns on) then I waited for the new Pixel 10 to come out, bought that, and had to switch again. For the most part, phone swaps are pretty smooth these days. Cloud backups take care of most everything.
One app category that’s an exception is my various 2FA apps. Microsoft Authenticator, in particular, for my work and personal accounts can be a bit confusing, I seem to re-create the process every time, so I’m memorializing my process for re-enabling Microsoft 365 or Azure AD accounts
Why This Matters
If you use Microsoft Authenticator for multi-factor authentication (MFA), switching phones without reconfiguring your accounts can lock you out of critical services. Thankfully, the process to reconnect is straightforward once you know where to go.
Step-by-Step: Reconnecting Microsoft Authenticator
1. Install the App
Download and install the Microsoft Authenticator app
2. Generate a New QR Code
On a computer where I’m already logged in:
- Go to https://mysignins.microsoft.com/security-info.
- Under Security info, click + Add sign-in method.
- Choose Authenticator app > Next.
- Follow the prompts until a QR code is displayed.
3. Scan the QR Code
- Use your phone to scan the QR code shown on your computer screen.
- The account will be added to your Authenticator app.
Other Notes
- Turn on backup for Authenticator: Enable cloud backup in the app settings. Even though each individual account will need to be re-enabled, this will ensure the full list of accounts shows up on the next device.
- Keep the old phone (if possible) until the new one is fully set up. Setting up the second time was a lot quicker because I had the interim device (a Pixel 6)
- Use a secondary method (like SMS or email) as a backup sign-in option. Again, this helps with the recovery process.
Finished reading: Bad Business by Robert B. Parker π
Finished reading: Separation of Power by Vince Flynn π
Finished reading: Painted Ladies by Robert B. Parker π
Finished reading: The Professional by Robert B. Parker π
