The option to add my phone number does not appear

Question

The option to add my phone number does not appear

Yuki Jiminian 20

I had not added my phone number yet. When I tried to do so the option to add my number does not appear. Why is this happening?

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2 answers

Answer 1

Thomas4-N 22,380 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hello Yuki Jiminian,

It sounds like you're referring to adding a phone number as a verification method on your Microsoft account — the option is no longer available for personal accounts. Microsoft removed it intentionally for security reasons.

Reference: Microsoft account security info & verification codes User's image

For verification, you can now add:

An email address
Microsoft Authenticator app
A passkey (face, fingerprint, or PIN)

You can manage these at https://account.microsoft.com/security > Manage how I sign in > Add a new way to sign in or verify.

DM Freed 0 Reputation points

2026-09-21T19:58:26.52+00:00

When Microsoft changes a policy like this, they should edit, remove, update... whatever... the help panel. It kept telling me FALSE information, and instructing me that I could change or add my phone number.

Answer 2

For Microsoft Rewards, the option to add or use a phone number appears only in specific situations and under certain conditions. The most common reasons this option may not appear when trying to redeem points are:

Region or market issues

Microsoft Rewards points must be redeemed in the same region as the Microsoft account.
If the system detects that the device is in a different country/region (for example, when traveling or using a VPN/proxy), some redemption options and verification flows (including phone verification) may not appear.
Disable any VPN/proxy and ensure redemption is being attempted from the home country/region.

Phone number type not eligible

Microsoft Rewards requires a mobile phone or landline number for SMS verification.
Voice over IP (VoIP) numbers are not permitted. If only a VoIP or toll‑free number is available, the system may not offer the option to add it.

Phone number usage limits

A single phone number can only be associated with a limited number of Microsoft Rewards accounts (maximum of 6 accounts per household).
If the number has already reached this limit, the system may not show the option to add it for another account.

Temporary verification or system restrictions

If there have been too many unsuccessful verification attempts, it may be necessary to wait 48 hours before the system allows phone verification again.
Orders or redemptions can also be blocked or cancelled if a VoIP number or VPN has been used previously, which can affect when and how phone verification options appear.

If redemption is being attempted from the correct region, with a non‑VoIP mobile or landline number, and within the usage limits, check the Microsoft Rewards dashboard and try again without VPN/proxy. For persistent issues adding a number or redeeming points, use the support options linked from the Rewards pages (for example, Microsoft Rewards Customer Support) to have the account and region checked.

References: