If Microsoft account phone verification is not working, the cause is usually one of four things: the number is in the wrong format, Microsoft has temporarily stopped sending codes after repeated requests, the number is a VoIP or virtual landline, or your carrier is filtering the message. Microsoft asks new Outlook and Microsoft accounts to verify a phone number to keep spam accounts out, so the step can't always be skipped, but it can almost always be fixed.
Why Microsoft asks you to verify a phone number
When you create a Microsoft account, for Outlook.com, Xbox, Teams or Windows, Microsoft may ask you to verify a phone number before the account works fully. It does two jobs: it makes bulk-created spam accounts costly, and it gives you a way back in if you forget your password. The number becomes part of your account's security info.
Microsoft account phone verification not working: fixes
- Use the full international format. Choose the right country code and enter the mobile number exactly as your carrier issued it.
- Stop requesting codes for a while. Microsoft's own support article explains that excessive or repeated requests can cause a temporary block in which no codes are sent at all. Wait a few hours, then request once.
- Use a real mobile number. Microsoft recommends a mobile number; numbers from internet calling services such as Google Voice are often rejected or never receive the code.
- Check your phone's filters. Look in spam or unknown-senders folders and your blocked list; some carriers block messages from short codes.
- Try another verification option. If you see "Other ways to verify" or a similar link, choose email or an authenticator app instead.
- Use Microsoft's recovery route if you're locked out. If you can't receive codes and can't sign in, the official account recovery form is the way back.
Microsoft's support article on verification codes covers the temporary block in more detail.
Which number types work
| Number type | Works for Microsoft verification? |
|---|---|
| Mobile number from a regular carrier | Yes, the recommended option |
| VoIP number from a calling app | Often rejected or never receives the code |
| Landline | Can't receive SMS; voice calls may work in some cases |
| One-time mobile number | Can receive the code, but shouldn't stay on your account |
Our article on non-VoIP vs VoIP numbers explains why services treat these differently.
Email codes not arriving instead?
If Microsoft sends the code by email, check the spam folder and add Microsoft's account security sender to your safe senders. Codes go only to the email addresses listed as sign-in or security info on the account, so a code won't reach an address you never added.
Using a one-time number for a new account
If your own number has hit the temporary block, or you'd rather not attach a personal number to a secondary Outlook address, a one-time mobile number can receive the code. On smsvar.com you choose Microsoft and a country, see the price on our prices page, and the code appears on your order screen; if nothing arrives in 20 minutes, the fee returns to your balance automatically.
Afterwards, change your account's security info: add your own phone or email and remove the one-time number. A temporary phone number can later belong to someone else, and Microsoft uses security info to recover accounts. Follow Microsoft's terms: creating accounts in bulk is exactly what this check is designed to stop.
Protect your Microsoft account
- Turn on two-step verification with the Microsoft Authenticator app.
- Consider a passkey or passwordless sign-in for your main account.
- Keep at least two pieces of security info up to date: a phone and an email you control.
- Review recent sign-in activity from time to time.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Microsoft say it can't send a code to my number?
Usually because the number was entered in the wrong format, because you've requested too many codes and triggered a temporary block, or because it's a VoIP number. Check the format, wait a few hours, and use a regular mobile number.
How long does the temporary block last?
Microsoft doesn't publish an exact time. In practice, waiting several hours to a day without further requests usually clears it. Each new request during the block can extend it, so stop completely before trying again.
Can I create an Outlook account without a phone number?
Sometimes Microsoft lets you continue without one, but it may ask for phone verification depending on risk signals during sign-up. If it does, you'll need a number that can receive SMS to finish creating the account.
Can I remove the phone number after verifying?
Yes. In your account's security settings you can add new security info and remove old entries. Make sure you always keep at least one phone or email you control, or recovering the account becomes difficult.
Need a number for Microsoft's code? Open our virtual number page, choose Microsoft and a country, and pay only when the code arrives. If you're new to this, start with how receiving SMS online works.