Sending, receiving, and organizing email in Outlook.com
Check the mailbox shown on the verification screen, search all Outlook folders for messages from @accountprotection.microsoft.com, and add that domain as a trusted sender before requesting one new code.
Check Outlook.com
- Confirm that the partially displayed recovery address on the sign-in screen—Microsoft shows its first two characters—matches the mailbox you are checking.
- In Outlook.com, search for:
-
accountprotection.microsoft.com -
Microsoft account -
security code
-
- Check Inbox, Junk Email, Other under Focused Inbox, and Deleted Items. Valid Microsoft verification-code messages come from an
@accountprotection.microsoft.comaddress.^1^ - Open Settings → Mail → Junk email → Safe senders and domains, add
accountprotection.microsoft.com, and save.^2^ - Check Settings → Mail → Rules and Junk email → Blocked senders and domains for anything that could delete, redirect, or block Microsoft messages.
- Return to the verification page and request one new code. Do not repeatedly select resend: excessive requests can trigger a temporary block that prevents further codes from being delivered.^1^
If the recovery address is another Microsoft mailbox
If the destination ends in @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, @live.com, or @msn.com, keep the verification page open:
- Open a second InPrivate/private browsing window. In Edge, press Ctrl+Shift+P.
- Sign in to the recovery mailbox in that second window.
- Copy the code, return to the first window, and enter it.
This prevents the browser from signing you out of the account that requested the code when you open the recovery account.^1^
If no message arrives
- Select Sign in another way or another verification method, if offered, and use a previously configured method.
- If the displayed email address is no longer accessible, select I don’t have any of these and follow the prompts to replace the security information. Replacing all security information results in a 30-day wait before sign-in.^1^
- If repeated requests may have caused a temporary block, stop requesting codes and wait at least 24 hours. If necessary, Microsoft advises waiting longer—up to one week—without repeated attempts, because additional requests can reset the time lock.^1^
- Use the Microsoft sign-in helper or Contact Microsoft Support from the support article if the issue continues. Support agents cannot manually send a verification code, send a password-reset link, or change account details.^1^
References