Microsoft sends a security code to the phone number or e-mail address saved as security info on your Microsoft account. If you are not receiving the Microsoft verification code, the cause is usually a filter on your phone or mailbox, outdated security info, or a temporary block after too many requests. Microsoft also refuses VoIP numbers outright.
Where Microsoft sends the code
- By text
- To a mobile number saved as security info on the account.
- By e-mail
- Only to your primary alias, or to another address you added as a way to verify.
- From
- E-mails come from the accountprotection.microsoft.com domain.
- Where you add a number
- At sign-up, or later under Security → Add a way to sign in.
Microsoft at a glance
- Virtual numbers
- Depends on the number range
- Code sent by
- SMS
- Asks for the number again later
- Yes
- One number per account
- No
Microsoft code not arriving: what to check
| What to do | |
|---|---|
| Your phone blocks unknown senders | Allow them, then select I don't have a code to get a new one |
| Your SMS inbox is full | Delete old messages, or restart a messaging app that misbehaves |
| The e-mail went to junk | Mark accountprotection.microsoft.com as a trusted sender |
| You watch the wrong mailbox | E-mail codes go only to the primary alias or the backup address you added |
| Too many requests | Stop and wait; Microsoft lifts these blocks by itself after a while |
| Unusual activity on the account | Try from another network or another method, then wait |
| SMS limited in your region | Use an e-mail code or an authenticator app instead |
| Old phone number on file | Update your security info as soon as you can sign in |
| The number is VoIP | Microsoft does not accept it; add a mobile number |
All nine causes come from Microsoft's own troubleshooting page, which lists a few rarer ones as well.
Using another sign-in method
- E-mail code: choose the backup address on the sign-in screen if text messages fail.
- Microsoft Authenticator: an app on your phone that confirms sign-ins without any text message.
- Another network: Microsoft itself suggests it, so switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data or the other way round.
Adding a new security number
- Sign in and open Security Go to the security basics of your Microsoft account.
- Add a way to sign in Choose a phone number and enter it with the country code.
- Confirm with the code Microsoft texts a code to the new number. Remove the old number afterwards.
Security info is how you get back into your mailbox, so it should be a mobile number you keep. A temporary number closes after one code and cannot do that. It only fits a one-time confirmation, and the app shows how often Microsoft accepts numbers from each country.
Common questions
Why am I not getting my Microsoft verification code?
Check filtered texts and the junk folder, make sure you are looking at the right phone or mailbox, and stop requesting codes for a while if you have tried many times.
Is an Outlook code the same as a Microsoft code?
Yes. Outlook.com and Hotmail addresses are Microsoft accounts, so the codes and fixes are the same.
Can I use a VoIP number for Microsoft?
No. Microsoft's help page says VoIP numbers cannot be used for sign-in or codes.
How long does a Microsoft block last?
Microsoft does not give a fixed time. It says these blocks resolve automatically after a period; if nothing changes after 24 hours, wait longer, up to a week, without new attempts.