---
title: Windows Live ID authentication
---

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>
> - [sitemap.md](https://docs.kentico.com/sitemap.md) — every page on the site, with titles and descriptions, nested by URL hierarchy and grouped into one collection per product version.
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Windows Live ID is a single sign-on service provided and maintained by Microsoft. By integrating Live ID into your website, you can allow site visitors to sign in to your website using their Live ID (personal Microsoft account) name and password.

## How to start using Windows Live ID

1. Register an authentication application in the [Azure portal](https://portal.azure.com/).

   - For detailed information, see [Registering your application to use Microsoft accounts](https://docs.kentico.com/k11/managing-users/user-registration-and-authentication/windows-live-id-authentication/registering-your-application-to-use-microsoft-accounts.md).
2. Set up Kentico for Live ID authentication.
   - See [Configuring Windows Live ID authentication](https://docs.kentico.com/k11/managing-users/user-registration-and-authentication/windows-live-id-authentication/configuring-windows-live-id-authentication.md).
3. Add the Live ID web parts on your site's pages to allow users to sign in.
   - See [Web parts available for Windows Live ID authentication](https://docs.kentico.com/k11/managing-users/user-registration-and-authentication/windows-live-id-authentication/web-parts-available-for-windows-live-id-authentication.md).

> **Note:** When a user signs in through a third-party authentication service for the first time, Kentico automatically creates a new user account for this user. Learn more about [managing users that sign in through a third-party authentication service](https://docs.kentico.com/k11/managing-users/user-registration-and-authentication/managing-users-coming-through-a-third-party-authentication-service.md).

## How it works

The following diagram shows how the process of Live ID login works.

![Windows LiveID login process](https://docs.kentico.com/docsassets/k11/windows-live-id-authentication/LiveID_login_process.png "Windows LiveID login process")

> **Note:** **Registration approval and double opt-in**
>
> If your site is configured to require[ registration approval or double opt-in](https://docs.kentico.com/k11/managing-users/user-registration-and-authentication/configuring-forms-authentication/new-user-registration-approval-and-email-confirmation.md), first-time users who attempt to sign in with their Live ID will be redirected to the standard sign-in page without any further information, which may lead to confusion.
>
> This issue can be avoided by creating a **Required user data** page where users must enter an email address for their account. When this is done, users will receive a notification email about the status of their account.