Unable to Add phone number

For personal Microsoft accounts, adding a new phone number as a sign-in or verification method may no longer be available. In Security > Manage how I sign in, the available options can be limited to methods such as a recovery email address, Microsoft Authenticator, or a passkey.

What to do now:

1. Go to the Microsoft account Security page: https://account.microsoft.com/security
2. Select Manage how I sign in.
3. Select Add a new way to sign in or verify.
4. If Phone is not offered, use one of the available methods instead:
   • recovery email address
   • Microsoft Authenticator
   • passkey

Important details for this situation:

• The missing Add phone number option can be expected for some personal Microsoft accounts.
• If the number that was removed was recently attached to another Microsoft account, transfer may not be available yet.
• A phone number can only be added to a single Microsoft account.
• VOIP numbers cannot be added for sign-in or verification codes; only a mobile phone number can be used.
• Avoid making excessive or repeated verification requests, because that can temporarily block code delivery.

If the goal is to secure the account after suspected compromise, make sure at least two other sign-in or recovery methods are present on the account before removing anything else.

If sign-in problems continue or access is blocked, use the sign-in helper or Contact Support from the Microsoft support flow.

• Microsoft account security info & verification codes
• Help with reusing phone numbers in a Microsoft account
• Troubleshoot Microsoft verification code issues