phone num change

Question

phone num change

Bui Minh Nghia 60

i just remove a phone num and i cant add it again (or changed it)

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Answer accepted by question author

EmilyS726 264.4K Independent Advisor

For personal Microsoft accounts, Microsoft now says you can no longer add a phone number as a new security method. This method is being phased out. See official document here.

https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/manage/microsoft-to-stop-sending-sms-codes-for-personal-accounts

You will have to use the other options offered, such as email, authenticator and passkey.

Bui Minh Nghia 60 Reputation points

2026-09-08T15:27:31.4+00:00

so why microsoft rewards still use SMS to verify something before payment?
EmilyS726 264.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-09-08T15:30:45.1033333+00:00

For reward redemption, Microsoft has now introduced an official alternative: “Verify with the Bing app.” You redeem from the Rewards website, select that option, scan the QR code with your phone, open/sign in to the Bing app, and enter the code shown on the Rewards page. Microsoft explicitly describes this as an alternative to SMS verification. Instructions can be found here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accounts-billing/rewards/use-qr-code-verification-to-redeem-microsoft-rewards
Bui Minh Nghia 60 Reputation points

2026-09-08T15:40:05.9366667+00:00

oh ok, thanks!

i appreciated your work with me.

1 additional answer

Your answer

Bui Minh Nghia 60 Reputation points

2026-09-08T15:27:31.4+00:00

so why microsoft rewards still use SMS to verify something before payment?
EmilyS726 264.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-09-08T15:30:45.1033333+00:00

For reward redemption, Microsoft has now introduced an official alternative: “Verify with the Bing app.” You redeem from the Rewards website, select that option, scan the QR code with your phone, open/sign in to the Bing app, and enter the code shown on the Rewards page. Microsoft explicitly describes this as an alternative to SMS verification. Instructions can be found here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accounts-billing/rewards/use-qr-code-verification-to-redeem-microsoft-rewards
Bui Minh Nghia 60 Reputation points

2026-09-08T15:40:05.9366667+00:00

oh ok, thanks!

i appreciated your work with me.

Answer 1

If this is a personal Microsoft account, that behavior is expected in many cases.

Microsoft no longer allows adding a phone number as a new security method for personal accounts.
After removing the old phone number, the option to add a new one may no longer appear.
Use another recovery or verification method instead, such as an alternate email address, Microsoft Authenticator, or a passkey/security key.

If the phone number is being used as a sign-in alias instead of security info:

If the number is already attached to another Microsoft account, select Transfer and follow the prompts.
If Transfer does not appear, the number was recently used on another Microsoft account. In that case, choose Change number and try the original number again after 30 days.
If the number is already an alias on another account that is owned, select Continue to sign in with that number instead of adding it again.

If the message says “This phone number has already been taken”:

Sign in to the account that currently has the phone number.
Select Remove next to that phone number.
Sign out.
Sign in to the account where the number should be added.
Select Add phone number.

Important: a phone number can only be removed from the first account if that account already has another username on it.