Hotmail...?

Question

For the last several months, but rarely prior to that, I've experienced periods when I'm not able to log in to my Hotmail account, getting the error message that there've been too many attempts to log in with the incorrect password. I wait 24 hours, then 48 hours, but still can't log in. Using my backup email for a code gets me in, using the url login.live.com instead of hotmail.com has sometimes gotten me in, but this is still annoying. Then after a couple of weeks, I can log in again normally with my regular password. Is MS really detecting someone trying to hack my account, or is this a software issue. Has anyone else experienced this?

And a related question... When I'm finally able to get into hotmail using my backup email, MS prompts me to enter my phone number as an extra backup, but when I enter my phone number, it tells me "Something went wrong" and doesn't add it to my account. I've tried with and without dashes. Help...

Answer 1

Hi Charles,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum. 

The message “You’ve tried to sign in too many times with an incorrect password” usually appears when Microsoft’s security system temporarily blocks sign-in after multiple unsuccessful authentication attempts.

Please note that this is a user-to-user support forum. Moderators, contributors including external Microsoft employees cannot directly intervene in Microsoft product features or access back-end systems. Our role is limited to providing technical guidance on reported issues, requests, or ideas only.

To avoid extending the block, please:

• Stop all sign-in attempts for 24–48 hours (do not try on a browser, mobile apps, or Outlook during this time).
• After the wait, sign in using an InPrivate/Incognito window and select “Other ways to sign in” > receive a verification code, instead of entering the password first.

Regarding the ‘Something went wrong’ message when adding a phone number:

• Please try adding the phone number again by following Microsoft’s official guidance here:
  • How to add an email address or phone number to your Microsoft account
  • Note that VoIP numbers are not supported for account verification.
• If you’re still unable to add the number, you can temporarily use another verification method (for example, Microsoft Authenticator or a passkey) under Security to keep the account protected.

If you’re still unable to access the account after completing the steps above, please use Microsoft’s account recovery form:

https://account.live.com/acsr

Please feel free to let me know if you have any further updates, thanks.

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