Relacing old phone number with a new phone number on my account.

Kahuulani Baoy 0 Reputation points
2026-11-08T19:33:45.9766667+00:00

I deleted my old number from my account, but I cannot find anywhere to enter my new number.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Subscription, account, billing | For home | Windows
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  1. EmilyS726 278.8K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-11-08T20:28:03.95+00:00

    For personal Microsoft accounts, Microsoft now says you can no longer add a phone number as a new security method. This method is being phased out. See official document here.

    https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/manage/microsoft-to-stop-sending-sms-codes-for-personal-accounts

    Are you hoping to update the contact method to receive the 2FA verification?

    If so, you go to https://account.live.com > Security > Manage how I sign in. And you will need to use email, the authentication app, or passkey.

    If you need to verify your Bing Reward, The supported alternative to entering a phone number is QR-code verification through the Bing mobile app. Microsoft officially identifies this as an alternative to SMS, and users have successfully redeemed rewards with it when SMS verification failed. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accounts-billing/rewards/use-qr-code-verification-to-redeem-microsoft-rewards

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  2. AI answer

    2026-11-08T19:34:17.97+00:00

    If Phone is missing under your personal Microsoft account’s security methods, that is expected for some accounts; add a recovery email, Microsoft Authenticator, or a passkey instead.

    For account security and verification

    1. Open the Microsoft account Security page:
      https://account.microsoft.com/security
    2. Select Manage how I sign in.
    3. Select Add a new way to sign in or verify.
    4. Add one of the options shown:
      • Recovery email address
      • Microsoft Authenticator
      • Passkey
    5. Complete the verification prompts.

    Microsoft confirms that adding a new phone number may not be available for some personal accounts as SMS is phased out for authentication and account recovery.^1^

    If you want the number as a sign-in alias

    A sign-in alias is a phone number or email address that can serve as the username for the same Microsoft account. It is separate from the security methods used to receive verification codes.

    1. Open Manage how you sign in to Microsoft:
      https://account.live.com/names/manage
    2. Sign in with the Microsoft account associated with the Microsoft 365 subscription.
    3. Select Add phone number.
    4. Enter and verify the new number.
    5. If offered, select Make primary when you want that number to be the account’s principal alias.

    Microsoft documents Your info → Manage how you sign in to Microsoft → Add phone number as the path for adding a phone-number alias.[^2^](https://support.microsoft.com/outlook/something-went-wrong-with-error-addriverstoreaccessnonlocalexception#add-another-alias-to-your-account-and-make-it-the-primary-alias ""Something went wrong" with error ADDriverStoreAccessNonLocalException | Microsoft Support")

    If Add phone number is also absent on the alias page, use an email alias and one of the supported security methods above; the security-method page cannot be used to force-enable a phone option.

    If Microsoft says the new number is already used

    A phone number can be associated with only one Microsoft account. If prompted:

    • Select Transfer to move the number from another account you own.
    • If Transfer is unavailable, select Change number and use another number.
    • For a recently reassigned mobile number, Microsoft advises trying again after 30 days.^3^

    References

    1. Microsoft account security info & verification codes
    2. "Something went wrong" with error ADDriverStoreAccessNonLocalException | Microsoft Support
    3. Help with reusing phone numbers in a Microsoft account | Microsoft Support
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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