How to fix adding a new email account to Outlook New

Question

How to fix adding a new email account to Outlook New

David Chambers 5

Unable to add an email account in Outlook New app. The process requires using Authenticator App on phone. Going to this app there is no code. Presumed this is because the same email account is not set up in Authenticator. Tried setting up account in Auth.. app, the process involved sending a code to my alternate MS email account and entering. Next there was a request to repeat sending a code to the same email. Selecting send code brings up a message about too many attempts and being blocked for 24 hours. Cannot therefore setup account in Authenticator to allow setup the same account in Outlook.

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Answer 1

Dora-T 1,990 Independent Advisor

Hi @David Chambers

To better understand the issue, could you please clarify a few details?

-When adding your account to the new Outlook app, are any alternative sign-in methods available? If so, have you tried using any of them? If possible, could you also share a screenshot of the sign-in screen, with any personal or sensitive information hidden?

-Is this the first time you have used Microsoft Authenticator with this account, or was it previously configured on another device?

-Are you using a personal Microsoft account (such as an @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, or @live.com address) or a work or school account?

In the meantime, since you've received a message indicating that too many verification attempts have been made, please wait until the temporary restriction has cleared before trying again. For more information, please refer to Troubleshoot Microsoft verification code issues | Microsoft Support

If this is the first time you are using Microsoft Authenticator with this account, please refer to the following guide:

How to add your accounts to Microsoft Authenticator | Microsoft Support

David Chambers 5 Reputation points

2026-10-27T08:06:16.7566667+00:00

Thanks for detail. Hopefully will this help when I can gain access. I had a message to wait 30 days then received an email to confirm that I had started to replace all security information from my other MS email account. So not sure where I am. This is beyond ridiculous. I have worked on computers for 30 years, this has totally floored me. It used to be simple to set up a MS email account in Outlook. Cannot understand what is going on with Authenticator. Used to just receive a number to confirm. Now no number appears, hence I noted that the account I am trying to set up is not listed in Authenticator, then I really got into trouble trying to add it. Now lost, confused and suspecting a 30 day wait, maybe longer if I somehow do not get it right next time. All because of the need to add an account to Outlook that disappeared in the app and online after restoring the computer with a system image, an image taken with Outlook set up with both of my accounts. Stunning! Fortunately, I had eMclient set up with both accounts and I can continue working emails. Dread to think where I would be without the eMclient set up.
Dora-T 1,990 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-10-28T01:57:29.7066667+00:00

Hi @David Chambers

I understand how frustrating and confusing this situation must be, especially when you previously had both email accounts working in Outlook without any issues.

Based on your description, it sounds like your account may be undergoing a security information replacement process. If all the existing security information on your Microsoft account has been removed and replaced, Microsoft requires a 30-day waiting period before the changes take effect.

For more information about this process and what to expect during the waiting period, please refer to Microsoft's official article: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accounts-billing/manage/what-does-security-info-change-is-still-pending-mean

Since you've already received an email about the 30-day waiting period, please wait for the process to complete.

I hope you find this information helpful.
David Chambers 5 Reputation points

2026-10-30T01:42:32.2466667+00:00

Thanks Dora. I did get a message with tab "it was me" to respond and it claimed this would bypass the waiting period. However, it then presents the Security page of the alternate account for the one blocked. I have no idea how to deal with that.

This whole situation is not simple as it should be. I have documents issues encountered with Authenticator.

Microsoft Authenticator issues

This Android app is far from simple. Many issues arise.

1.      Tried to add second MS account.

a.      Not clear how to respond to code sent to authenticator when already in the app.

b.      The opportunity is very short, rapidly a screen appears stating no response to code.

c.       Tried the alternative of sending code to phone. Not available?

d.      Tried a code sent to the alternate email, somehow this failed.

e.      With my attempts I was advised that access to account would be blocked for 30 days. Penalised.

2.      Uninstalled Authenticator and re-installed to start afresh.

a.      First screen. ADD an account offered recover an account.

b.      Selected recover and the account I wished to recover was displayed, followed process, when completed was advised account was not available from backup.

c.       Proceeded with ADD an account, following process using email code verification. A message was seen that it was not successful, then suddenly it was?? (not clear on exact detail at this point). Thankfully this one account is added.

d.      Now to wait 30days+ to add second account.

3.      Assessments

a.      Why is the app not simple?

b.      Why is it not clear how to respond to the code sent to the same app?

c.       Why is code to phone not working? Phone number is certainly firmly in account security settings.

d.      Why a 30 day penalty when it should be evident that the phone being used is in hands of user. Other sites accept that a code received on the listed phone as sufficient security. Why is the user phone not being recognised as legit in hands of user?

e.      Why offer account recovery and even offer that specific account if it is not backed up and available?

f.        Authenticator has become confusing.
Dora-T 1,990 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-10-30T03:19:43.1266667+00:00

Hi @David Chambers

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and feedback in such detail.

I understand how frustrating this experience has been, particularly with the difficulties you've encountered when adding and recovering your accounts, as well as the unexpected 30-day waiting period.

Please note that this is a user-to-user support forum, not an official Microsoft Support channel. Community members do not have access to Microsoft's internal systems, account security records, or authentication logs. As a result, it is not possible to determine why certain verification methods were unavailable or why specific authentication attempts failed.

I can only provide guidance based on publicly available Microsoft documentation and the information shared in the discussion.

Thank you again for your patience and understanding.
David Chambers 5 Reputation points

2026-10-30T07:32:32.49+00:00

Thanks Dora, I will tune the info and submit details to Microsoft support. Appreciate your help.
Dora-T 1,990 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-10-31T00:17:48.4233333+00:00

Hi @David Chambers

I hope you can get this issue resolved soon.

If you have any other questions in the future, please feel free to reach out anytime.

Have a great day!
David Chambers 5 Reputation points

2026-11-05T00:39:56.34+00:00

Thanks Dora. Something happened. It all sorted. 30 day lockout no longer!!!
Dora-T 1,990 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-11-05T02:13:43.7633333+00:00

Hi @David Chambers

Thank you for the update!

I'm glad to hear that your issue has been resolved.

Have a nice day!

Answer 2

Stop requesting more codes for at least 24 hours, because repeated requests can restart or extend the temporary verification block; then complete verification by an existing alternate method or use the account-type recovery path below. ^1^

1. Let the verification block expire

Since another code request already produced the “too many attempts” message:

Make no further code or Authenticator setup attempts for the full 24 hours shown.
Afterward, make one attempt.
If still blocked, wait longer—Microsoft advises waiting as long as one week if 24 hours is insufficient.
If available, select Sign in another way, Other ways to sign in, or I can’t use my Microsoft Authenticator app right now, and choose an already-registered email, phone, passkey, or other method.
If the block appears tied to the current connection, switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data before that single attempt.

Microsoft documents that a high volume of requests can cause a block and that repeated attempts may reset its timer. ^1^

2. Check what the Outlook prompt actually requests

An empty Authenticator screen does not necessarily mean that a six-digit code should be present:

“Approve sign-in,” “Check your Authenticator,” or a number displayed in Outlook: this expects a push notification and possibly number matching. Open the notification in Authenticator, select the matching number, and approve it. The phone needs an Internet connection for this method. ^2^
“Enter code” or “Use a verification code”: this expects a rotating code from an account that was already registered in Authenticator. Authenticator must first have been added as a sign-in method for that account; merely typing the email into the app does not complete that registration. ^2^

Do not approve any Authenticator request that you did not initiate.

3. Recover verification according to the account type

Personal Microsoft account

This normally includes addresses ending in @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, @live.com, or @msn.com.

After the block clears:

Sign in to the Microsoft account Security page.
Select Manage how I sign in.
Select Add a new way to sign in or verify.
Add Microsoft Authenticator, a recovery email, or another offered method.
Complete the confirmation sent to that method. ^3^

If the alternate address is another Microsoft email account, keep the original verification page open and access the alternate mailbox in a separate InPrivate/private browser window. This avoids one Microsoft-account sign-in replacing the other browser session. ^1^

If none of the registered security methods is accessible, choose I don’t have any of these during identity verification and follow the account-recovery process. Replacing all security information can impose a 30-day wait, so do not remove every working method merely to troubleshoot this issue. ^1^

Work or school Microsoft 365 account

After the block clears, use Sign in another way if another method is already registered. If no method works, contact the organization’s IT administrator and request an MFA/authentication-method reset so Authenticator can be registered again. Organizations can restrict self-service recovery, and Microsoft’s work/school guidance directs users to their administrator when recovery is unavailable. ^4^

4. Add the account to New Outlook

Once browser sign-in and verification work:

Open New Outlook.
Select View → View settings, or File → Account info.
Open Accounts → Your accounts.
Under Email accounts, select Add Account.
Enter the address, select Continue, complete the sign-in prompt, and select Done. ^5^

Reinstalling Outlook or repeatedly adding the account will not bypass an account-level verification block; restore a working verification method first.

References