Unable to change Microsoft account password since around October 10 – persistent temporary service error

Use Microsoft’s password-reset flow instead of the failing Change password page; Microsoft specifically recommends this fallback when a known-password change cannot be completed.^1^

Reset the password through the recovery flow

Because changing devices, locations, and compliant passwords has already made no difference, do not repeat those tests.

1. Open Microsoft’s password-reset page: Reset password.
2. Enter the affected Outlook.com address and select Next.
3. Choose one of the registered verification methods.
4. Enter the verification code.
5. Create the new password and complete the reset.

Microsoft documents this as the supported recovery sequence: select Forgot password, verify the account through a registered method, enter the code, and set a new password.^2^

If two-step verification is enabled, the reset may require two separate verification methods—for example, an authenticator code and a code sent to the backup email address.^3^

Check for a pending security-information change

A temporary security restriction is a documented possibility, but only if all security information was recently removed or replaced. In that state:

• Microsoft displays “Your security info change is still pending” or “You can’t access this site right now.”
• The account remains usable for services such as Outlook.com.
• Password updates and other operations requiring security verification are blocked for 30 days.^4^

To check:

1. Open the Microsoft account Security page.
2. Look for a Security info change is still pending notice.
3. If the change was yours and the original verification methods remain accessible, select cancel this request and complete verification.
4. If you did not request the change, select let us know and follow the account-protection prompts.
5. If cancellation is unavailable, the documented options are to wait for the 30-day period to finish or recover access through the displayed security process; Microsoft cannot expedite the restriction.^4^

Do not remove all existing verification methods while troubleshooting. Removing all security information initiates the same 30-day restricted state.^5^

If the reset flow produces the same error

No public Microsoft status information supplied here confirms a broad password-change outage beginning October 10, 2026. The error itself does not distinguish a service incident from an account-specific protection or backend failure.

Since the problem has persisted for several days, contact Microsoft Support and report it as a technical failure:

1. Open Contact Microsoft Support.
2. Enter Microsoft account password change temporary service error.
3. Select Get Help, then Contact Support.
4. If product and category choices appear, select Other Products → Manage account security.
5. Request Chat with a support agent in your web browser, if offered.
6. Provide:
   • The exact error text.
   • The approximate first occurrence: October 10, 2026.
   • Confirmation that normal sign-in and registered verification methods work.
   • Confirmation that the password-reset fallback also fails, if applicable.
   • Whether the Security page shows a pending security-information change.

Support can investigate the technical path and available recovery options, but agents cannot send password-reset links or directly change protected account details.^1^

References

1. Change your Microsoft account password | Microsoft Support
2. Reset a forgotten Microsoft account password | Microsoft Support
3. How to use two-step verification with your Microsoft account | Microsoft Support
4. What does “Security info change is still pending” mean? | Microsoft Support
5. Removing a sign-in verification method | Microsoft Support