Solved Microsoft 2 step verification, unable to add phone number

MaddyMay

Member
Member
Messages
21
Hello,

I have 2 Microsoft accounts. I have enabled 2 step verification for both of them. With one account, I was able to enter my cell phone number to complete the process, so I would receive a text message if a device I haven't set to trusted tries to log in to that account. I tried the same process on the second account, and whenever I try to enter the same cell phone number, I get an error page that the service is 'temporarily unavailable'. I have tried every combination of entering the cell phone number that I can think of, and nothing works for that second account.

With the first account, I was using the Opera browser to enter the information. With the second account, I was using IE 10. With the second account, I get an e-mail with a verification code if an untrusted device tries to log in. This is OK, but I would prefer to receive a text to my cell phone instead, as I do not always have such instant access to my e-mail account.

Any suggestions? Or can you not use the same cell phone number for 2 accounts?

Edited to add: This is the exact message I get when I try to have MS send a code to my cell phone:

There's a temporary problem with the service. Please try again. If you continue to get this message, try again later.

I've been doing some research online this evening, doing a search with that message. It looks like this is pretty hopeless. Once people see this message in relation to any MS services, there seems to be no solution for it. I guess I should just be grateful that I at least haven't been locked out of my Windows Live account entirely, since Windows 8 is so tied to being able to connect to one's Microsoft account. Of course, the account I use for my throw-away Hotmail account works just fine.

The format I've used for the phone number is (XXX) XXX-XXXX . I've tried variations of that with brackets, spaces, and hyphens, nothing works, but at least e-mail verification still does.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Samsung NP550P7C
You may want to contact Microsoft. I use a verification app on my Google Nexus 7 tablet, along with my iPhone. When I am asked for verification, it asks for the code from the app. Probably the easiest way to do it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Mint 17.2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satellite C850D-st3nx1
    CPU
    AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon (tm) HD Graphics 1.40 GHZ
    Memory
    12GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon™ HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M500 240GB SSD
    Mouse
    Logitech M525
    Internet Speed
    45/6 - ATT U-Verse
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    None needed. It is Linux.
    Other Info
    Arris NVG589 Gateway; Router - Cisco RV320; Switch - Netgear GS108 8-Port Switch & Trendnet TEG-S50g 5-Port Switch; Access Points - Engenius ECB350, Trendnet TEW-638APB; NAS - Lenovo ix2-4; Printer - Brother HL-2280DW; Air Print Server - Lantronix XPrintServer

    A/V UPS - Tripp-Lite Smart 1500LCD 1500 Va/900 W.
@ Broe23: It looks like Apple doesn't have an authentication app for Microsoft. Are you using the Google authentication app successfully with your iPhone?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Samsung NP550P7C
I ended up changing the option from texting my cell phone to calling my cell phone, and that 'took'. Maybe you can't have the same options on the same telephone number from 2 different Microsoft accounts.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Samsung NP550P7C
Back
Top