A tool for managing user identities, credentials, and access across on-premises and cloud environments
For a personal Microsoft account, these are the supported options:
- At the sign-in prompt, check whether another verification method is available:
- Select Show more verification methods if it appears.
- If another email, Authenticator, or other method is listed, use that instead of the old landline.
- If no usable method is available, select I don't have any of these during sign-in.
- This starts the process to replace security info.
- When all security info must be replaced, there is a 30-day wait before sign-in is restored.
- That wait cannot be bypassed.
- Do not try to reuse the mobile number that is already attached to another Microsoft account.
- A phone number can only be added to one Microsoft account.
- If the mobile number is already linked to the secondary account, it cannot be added to the primary account unless a different number is used.
- If the number was only recently added to the other account, the only option is to use a different mobile number.
- If access still exists to the secondary account, add a different sign-in method there first, then remove the mobile number from that account.
- Microsoft accounts can have up to 10 ways to verify sign-in.
- The option to add a new phone number may not always be available; other methods can include a recovery email, Microsoft Authenticator, or a passkey.
- Avoid changing all security info at the same time, because that can trigger another 30-day restriction.
- If verification codes are not arriving or sign-in is blocked, avoid repeated attempts.
- Excessive or repetitive requests can cause temporary blocks.
- If blocked, try another verification method, try another network, and wait before trying again.
- Microsoft Support cannot send verification codes or change account details for this scenario.
If the primary account is already in the 30-day pending period and no other verification method is available, there is no faster self-service path in the documented process. The practical next step is to wait for the security info replacement to complete, or regain access to any existing verification method if possible.
- Troubleshoot Microsoft verification code issues | Microsoft Support
- Help with reusing phone numbers in a Microsoft account | Microsoft Support
- Microsoft account security info & verification codes | Microsoft Support
- How can I change my security landline number to a cellphone number that can receive a code? - Microsoft Q&A
- MFA code being sent to old phone number - Microsoft Q&A