Password & Account Recovery

How to Reset a Hotmail Password When Outlook Does Not Recognize Your Phone Number

Bushra Parveen Oct 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to reset their Hotmail or Microsoft account password but is unable to proceed because Outlook does not recognize the linked phone number or Authenticator app.

How to Reset a Hotmail Password When Outlook Fails to Recognize Your Phone Number

Product: Microsoft Outlook / Hotmail
Device & OS: Windows, iOS
Scenario: Attempting to recover a Hotmail account or sign into Outlook when standard verification methods fail.
Observed behavior: Outlook rejects or fails to recognize the user's registered phone number, blocking the standard password reset and login procedures.

Before you start

Ensure you have a secondary, accessible email address ready so Microsoft can contact you with instructions during the manual account recovery process.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Microsoft Account Recovery Form

The most reliable method to regain access when your primary verification methods are unavailable is by completing Microsoft's official account recovery form.

This method bypasses the need for the unrecognized phone number or the Microsoft Authenticator app by relying on historical account data to verify your identity.

Visit the password reset page

Open your web browser and navigate to the official Microsoft recovery page at https://account.live.com/resetpassword.aspx.

Enter your account details

Select the password reset option, enter the affected Hotmail or Microsoft account email address, and proceed to the verification step.

Bypass unavailable methods

When prompted to select a verification method, choose "I can't use any of these options" if your phone number is not listed or recognized.

Provide an alternate contact

Enter a different, accessible email address where the Microsoft support team can send you updates and a recovery link.

Complete and submit the recovery form

Fill out the subsequent account recovery form with as much accurate historical information as possible (e.g., previous passwords, email subjects), then submit it and wait for Microsoft's instructions.

Form Processing Time: It may take up to 24 hours for Microsoft to review your submitted recovery form and send instructions to your alternate email address.

Solution 2

Manually Repair Account Settings in Outlook Desktop

If you are currently signed in to the Outlook desktop app but need to update your credentials or fix account sync issues, you can use the manual repair tool.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why isn't Outlook recognizing my linked phone number?

This issue can occur due to temporary server synchronization problems on Microsoft's end, regional number formatting changes, or if the security information on your Microsoft account was recently updated but has not yet fully processed.

Can I manually repair my Outlook account from the iPhone app?

No, the manual account repair options (like 'Let me repair my account manually' under Advanced Options) are currently exclusive to the Outlook desktop application for Windows and are not available in the Outlook app for iOS.

What should I do if my Microsoft account recovery form is rejected?

If your form is rejected, you can submit it again up to two times per day. Make sure to fill it out from a device and location you frequently use to sign in, and provide as much detail as possible, such as exact email subjects and contacts you've recently emailed.

Login & Account Issues