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Having problems getting text codes to confirm my account

Hvnly 0 Reputation points
2026-02-05T04:01:12.8133333+00:00

Not sure if I have the "New Outlook for Mac" but I'm asking this question anyway. Very recently, Microsoft has been asking me if I want to login with my phone number but it doesn't work. I click on phone number and it only displays my email address with no space to type anything. Anyway, I always use my password, so I am able to login that way but this should not be happening.

Also, when I go to confirm my login details, when I want to view the security section of my account, it asks how I want to verify my identity. I have almost always used my phone number to get a text code but now after confirming the last 4 digits of my number it displays a page showing my email address and that's it. It won't send a code and the page has no place to put in the code.

I am luckily able to use my back up email addresses; however this has NEVER happened until very recently. I have been using an alias to login for at least a year and NEVER had this problem before. I checked my account details and my phone number is properly listed along with my other email information.

I am LOST what may be causing this problem. Does anybody have any input or advice they could provide?

Thank You

Outlook | MacOS | New Outlook for Mac | For home
Answer recommended by moderator
  1. Kal-D 4,710 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-02-05T21:22:15.93+00:00

    Hi Hvnly,

    Welcome to Microsoft Q&A.

    From your description (the phone/SMS option showing only your email with no field to enter a number or code), this usually happens when the Microsoft sign-in/verification page doesn’t fully render in the embedded sign-in window, or when cached sign-in tokens/credentials get “stuck.”

    1) Verify in a full browser first (quick isolation test)

    • In Safari or Chrome, open a Private/Incognito window. Go to account.microsoft.com/security and try SMS verification again.
    • If this works in Private/another browser, the issue is often tied to blocked cookies/content blockers or a corrupted session.

    For reference: Troubleshoot Microsoft verification code issues

    2) Outlook for Mac: reset the sign-in state

    If you’re not sure whether you’re using New Outlook: in Outlook, check View > New Outlook (toggle). The steps differ slightly.

    • Classic Outlook: Outlook > Tools > Accounts > select account > … > Reset Account
    • New Outlook: Outlook Settings > Accounts > remove the account, restart Outlook, then add it back.

    3) If the embedded sign-in window still loops: clear saved Office sign-in items (Keychain)

    • Quit all Office apps.
    • Open Keychain Access and search: Microsoft, Office, Outlook, OneAuth/ADAL.
    • Remove entries clearly tied to Office/Microsoft sign-in, then restart Outlook and sign in again.

    (Expect to be signed out and asked to sign back in.)

    4) Optional: switch from SMS to Microsoft Authenticator (more reliable)

    Authenticator uses approval prompts (push) instead of SMS and can avoid SMS-code screens during sign-in: Microsoft Authenticator FAQs

    Quick question: does the “blank/no code box” happen in Safari/Chrome too, or only inside Outlook’s sign-in window? That should tell us whether to focus on browser/privacy settings or cached Outlook/Office credentials.

    Please let me know if this proves useful to you or if you would like further assistance.

    I'm looking forward to your answer.

    If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment”.   

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    1 person found this answer helpful.

3 additional answers

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  1. Q&A Assist
    2026-02-05T04:01:33.74+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    It sounds like you're experiencing issues with the two-factor authentication (2FA) process when trying to verify your identity for your Microsoft account. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the problem:

    1. Check Your Security Info: Ensure that your phone number is correctly listed in your Microsoft account security settings. If you can sign in briefly, go to Microsoft Account Security and review your security info.
    2. Use Alternative Recovery Options: If the text code is not being sent, try using other recovery options available, such as your backup email addresses. You mentioned you have been able to use them, so continue to do so until the issue is resolved.
    3. Clear Browser Cache: Sometimes, issues with the login page can be resolved by clearing your browser's cache or trying a different browser altogether. You might also consider using InPrivate or Incognito mode.
    4. Contact Microsoft Support: If the problem persists, it may be best to reach out to Microsoft Support for assistance. They can help you troubleshoot the issue further and ensure your account security settings are correct.
    5. Wait and Retry: Occasionally, there may be temporary issues with Microsoft's systems. If you continue to encounter problems, waiting a little while before trying again can sometimes resolve the issue.

    By following these steps, you should be able to address the verification issues you're facing.

    4 people found this answer helpful.
  2. Robert Woods 5 Reputation points
    2026-02-08T02:49:42.6166667+00:00

    no matter what i try i cannot update my identity phone number

    1 person found this answer helpful.
  3. Ana-Maria Dohotaru 5 Reputation points
    2026-02-07T01:53:27.05+00:00

    I can't log in to my account

    1 person found this answer helpful.

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