Password recovery not working due to two-step authentication

Serhii 20 Reputation points
2026-07-19T21:57:54.96+00:00

When I try to recover my old Microsoft account, it gives me a message that says: "That verification method isn't working right now. Please try another method.", but there is no other method other than that. Microsoft says "This account has been blocked", which could be the problem that causes the authentication to fail, but if that is it, how long does it get blocked?

Outlook | Web | Outlook.com | Account management, security, and privacy
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Estrella721 46,025 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-07-19T22:36:48.1633333+00:00

I understand that you're receiving the message, "That verification method isn't working right now. Please try another method." when trying to sign in. This message usually appears when your account is temporarily blocked due to unusual activity, a high volume of requests, or similar security-related reasons.

First, I suggest resetting your password and then trying to sign in again:

https://account.live.com/ResetPassword.aspx

If the issue persists, make sure you're using a device and location you've previously used to sign in. You can also try switching networks, such as using Wi-Fi instead of mobile data (or vice versa). Avoid making repeated sign-in attempts, as this may extend the temporary block. In some cases, waiting 24 hours or even up to a week may help resolve the issue.

For further assistance, use the Sign-in Helper tool to identify the problem and explore the available support options:

https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2214157

Reference: See the "Try another verification method" section:

https://support.microsoft.com/account-billing/troubleshooting-verification-code-issues-409090c4-92b5-42b9-8ae6-bcc97e62fc48

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  1. Stefan Blom 352.3K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2026-07-19T23:41:55.82+00:00

    According to the support article at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accounts-billing/manage/help-with-the-microsoft-account-recovery-form , account recovery isn't possible if you enabled two factor authentication and you can't access alternative verification methods. The screen shot below is from the article.

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