Microsoft 365 features that help users manage their subscriptions, account settings, and billing information.
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
- Open the Microsoft account Security page:
https://account.microsoft.com/security - Select Manage how I sign in.
- Select Add a new way to sign in or verify.
- Add one of the options shown:
- Recovery email address
- Microsoft Authenticator
- Passkey
- 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.
- Open Manage how you sign in to Microsoft:
https://account.live.com/names/manage - Sign in with the Microsoft account associated with the Microsoft 365 subscription.
- Select Add phone number.
- Enter and verify the new number.
- 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