Managing personal Outlook.com account settings, security, and privacy
Follow these steps in order, based on how Microsoft handles Outlook.com/Microsoft account password resets and verification issues.
- Start the standard password reset flow
- Go to the Microsoft account sign-in page for Outlook.com.
- Enter the Outlook email address and select Forgot password?
- This uses the normal reset flow described in Reset a forgotten Microsoft account password.
- Complete the first verification step (backup email)
- In Step 2: Verify your identity, choose the backup email option that works.
- Retype the first part of that email when prompted and select Get code.
- Enter the code from that email.
- When the phone/SMS step fails (“verify by another way”) Because two-step verification is enabled, the system requires two different methods (for example, backup email + phone). When the phone option shows “please verify by another way, this is not available at the moment,” treat it as a verification-code delivery problem:
- Review the guidance in Troubleshoot Microsoft verification code issues:
- Do not repeatedly request new codes; too many requests can cause a temporary block where codes are not sent.
- Check that the phone number on screen matches the last digits of the correct mobile number.
- Make sure the phone can receive SMS from unknown numbers and that the inbox is not full.
- If using a VOIP number, codes will not be delivered; a mobile number is required.
- If there is unusual activity or heavy compromised traffic from your region, Microsoft may temporarily block or delay codes; this clears automatically after some time.
- Try again after a cooldown period If there have been many attempts:
- Stop trying for several hours (often up to about a day) to allow any temporary block or rate limit to clear.
- When retrying, complete the flow in one go: email code first, then phone code once, without repeated resends.
- Use the sign-in helper if verification options fail If the phone option continues to be unavailable even after waiting:
- Use the Sign-in Helper referenced in:
- I can't sign in to my Microsoft account
- Unblock my Outlook.com account
- The sign-in helper can:
- Detect common sign-in and verification problems.
- Offer alternative recovery paths when standard options fail.
- If still blocked from codes If codes still do not arrive or the phone method stays unavailable:
- Follow Reset a forgotten Microsoft account password → Step 2 note:
- If no usable verification option works or is shown, use the linked sign-in helper tool from that article.
- If the account is temporarily blocked due to unusual activity, use the unblock flow described in Unblock my Outlook.com account via the Sign-in Helper link there.
- When two-step verification is enabled
- With two-step verification turned on, Microsoft requires two working security methods to reset the password. The account recovery form cannot bypass 2FA for security reasons (see How to use two-step verification with your Microsoft account and the similar Q&A cases in the context).
- If neither the phone nor any other second factor can be used, support agents cannot override this or send codes manually; recovery is automated.
- Contact Microsoft Support (for guidance, not manual reset) If the above steps do not resolve the issue:
- Go to Contact Microsoft Support from Troubleshoot Microsoft verification code issues → Need more help?
- Choose the Microsoft account/Outlook.com category and describe that:
- Two-step verification is enabled.
- Email codes work but the phone method is “not available at the moment.”
- Support cannot send codes or change security info but can confirm the correct recovery path and check for known issues.
Because the closing is time-sensitive, the only actionable options are:
- Wait out any temporary block and retry the standard reset (email + phone) carefully.
- Use the sign-in helper and support contact options linked in the articles to ensure the correct recovery flow is being used.
References:
- Reset a forgotten Microsoft account password
- Troubleshoot Microsoft verification code issues
- I can't sign in to my Microsoft account
- How to use two-step verification with your Microsoft account
- Unblock my Outlook.com account
- Unable to change password in my Outlook - Microsoft Q&A
- Can't sign in to my email - Microsoft Q&A
- Having problems getting text codes to confirm my account - Microsoft Q&A
- Locked out of my Outlook account and recovery options not working - Microsoft Q&A
- When enter the Outlook email account address it will not accept my Microsoft password it will not load - Microsoft Q&A