A Microsoft app for iOS and Android devices that enables authentication with two-factor verification, phone sign-in, and code generation
Take immediate steps to secure the account and reduce the risk of takeover:
- Review recent sign-in activity
- Go to the Security basics page for the Microsoft account: https://account.microsoft.com/security
- Select Review activity and check the Recent activity page.
- For any sign-in that is not recognized, expand it and choose:
- This wasn’t me (under Unusual activity), or
- Secure your account (under Recent activity).
- For any sign-in that is not recognized, expand it and choose:
- This flags the activity and walks through securing the account.
- Change the password immediately
- From the Security basics page, select Change password.
- Set a strong, unique password that is not used on any other site.
- Do this from a trusted device and network that is known to be clean.
- Add and verify more than one security method
- Go to Advanced security options for the Microsoft account.
- Select Add a new way to sign in or verify and add at least one additional method (for example, another email or phone, or another secure method).
- Ensure all listed phone numbers and email addresses are valid and under control.
- Check for security-info changes or pending lock
- If a message appears such as “Your security info change is still pending” or “You can’t access this site right now”, it means all previous security info was removed and replaced.
- In that case, the account is in a restricted 30‑day state where some sensitive actions are blocked until the change completes.
- During this period, most services can still be used, but some sensitive pages and OneDrive Personal Vault are blocked.
- If verification is being blocked or codes fail
- If a “Try another verification method” message appears or verification is blocked:
- Try another verification method already configured (for example, alternate email instead of SMS).
- Try another network (switch Wi‑Fi/cellular or use a different Wi‑Fi).
- Wait at least 24 hours without repeated attempts if a temporary block is suspected; repeated attempts can extend the block.
- Use the Sign-in helper if sign-in issues persist: https://aka.ms/sign-in-helper
- If the account may already be compromised
- Use the official recovery and protection guidance for hacked accounts: follow the steps in How to recover a hacked or compromised Microsoft account, starting from the sign-in helper at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2196140.
- After regaining control, review mailbox rules, forwarding, and security info, and remove anything not recognized.
- Ongoing protection
- Keep at least two independent security options on the account (for example, authenticator plus a phone or alternate email).
- Regularly review security info and update anything that is no longer valid.
- Avoid staying signed in on shared or public devices; always sign out and close the browser.
These steps do not “block” the account completely, but they harden it, flag suspicious activity, and ensure only verified sign-ins succeed.
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