Cannot log into hotmail.com account, keeps advising ‘try another verification method’ and tried to recover account with no luck - what to do now?

Question

Cannot log into hotmail.com account, keeps advising ‘try another verification method’ and tried to recover account with no luck - what to do now, desperately need access to emails in there?

Answer 1

Hi, I'm John! I will help you with this.

Microsoft Q&A is public, and we can only provide information. It is beyond our capability to assist directly with the account or login-related issues.

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Do you see any other verification methods available, like an alternative phone number, email address, or the Microsoft Authenticator app?

If not, here are a few things you can try:

• Try signing in on your phone’s browser where the SIM card is inserted, sometimes this helps with phone number verification.
• Try signing in from a different device or network (sometimes even using a VPN helps). Or select a different Wi-Fi network if possible.
• Wait about 24 hours and try again, as the system may unlock by itself. If there's no change after 24 hours, wait a longer period, as long as possible up to 1 week.

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Let me know if you have any further questions or concerns.

Click "Add comment" to let me know.

Regards,

John J.D.

Answer 2

I understand your frustration.

You can try to unblock first.

• Visit: https://support.microsoft.com/account-billing/account-has-been-locked-805e8b0d-4141-29b2-7b65-df6ff6c9ce27 and click "Sign-in".
• You can use any phone number to request the security code.
• The phone number doesn't need to be associated with your account.

If issue persists, you can try using the Microsoft Sign-in Helper tool to help you through the sign-in process.

• Visit: https://support.microsoft.com/account-billing/i-can-t-sign-in-to-my-microsoft-account-475c9b5c-8c25-49f1-9c2d-c64b7072e735 and click "Sign-in Helper".
• Follow the self-help steps provided.

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Let me know how it goes or if you have any further questions or concerns.

Answer 3

Thank you for letting me know.

It is up to you whether to wait. Microsoft Account Recovery form is currently the only official way to recover your account. You can try it up to twice a day.

If it’s already been a few weeks, you can check this page: "Account recovery unsuccessful" https://support.microsoft.com/account-billing/account-recovery-unsuccessful-dc56c3e3-dff0-4ed5-8edb-60290eea6b53 it includes extra tips from Microsoft that could improve your chances.

Fill out the form as accurately as you can, include any old passwords, subjects of recent emails, or contacts you remember. The more details you provide, the better the chances of recovering your account.

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If you have any recurring subscriptions or payments linked to this email, I also recommend contacting your bank or card provider to block those charges until your account is secured.

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I know this process can take some time, but this is currently the only way Microsoft can verify ownership without access to the old phone number.