I’m locked out of my computer, why do I have to wait 30 days? I need it for school!

Question

I’m locked out of my computer, why do I have to wait 30 days? I need it for school!

C W 0

Microsoft is bad

30 days is too long when I still have my original device

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3 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Bulldog 4,730

The required 30-day delay is to discourage thieves from stealing accounts.

In future, you have many ways to avoid the same fate:

Use a passkey.

Maintain alternative forms of authentication - PIN, password, biometric.

Backup your MFA so you can restore it on a new device.

Backup your account recovery code.

C W 0 Reputation points

2026-09-19T02:55:26.0966667+00:00

What’s a MFA? My Dad won’t let me use biometrics! I can’t own a phone and he refuses to get one
Bulldog 4,730 Reputation points

2026-09-19T07:03:04.4133333+00:00

I'm sorry, but those are not Microsoft's problems.

Answer 2

This 30-day delay is intentional. It’s a security safeguard designed to protect users in case someone else tries to hijack their account by changing recovery info. The wait gives the rightful owner time to notice and stop unauthorized changes.

Unfortunately, this policy cannot be bypassed. Microsoft explains it further here.

https://support.microsoft.com/account-billing/-your-security-info-change-is-still-pending-or-you-can-t-access-this-site-right-now-microsoft-account-message-cbd0f64f-02d9-45d2-90c3-2375e5a72e52#:~:text=While%20we%20understand%20this%2030,phone%20number%20or%20email%20address.

Answer 3

C W 0

. .

EmilyS726 269.1K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-09-19T03:00:19.8666667+00:00

You actually WERE using your outlook to reset your pin, but logging into Outlook requires multiple factor authentication, having the password is not enough, as it also wants to send the verification code to your security contact info. Apparently you had it set to send the code to your icloud account. And since you cannot access your icloud email to retrieve the code, Microsoft allows you set up a different contact method, only problem is, this update requires a 30 days. No way to bypass. Sorry.

This is account based, so having a new computer will not change the problem, because when you log into the new computer, it still wants password, then it wants to ask for the verification code, but your security contact update is still pending, so you still won't get the code.

If you must use your computer, the only option is to clean install it, start over with a different account for now. Wait 30 days, then link your own account back. However, doing so you do lose all your files unless they were already backed up to OneDrive.