Microsoft Account - Verify in Windows 8.1

How to Verify or Recover your Microsoft Account in Windows 8.1


information   Information
Occasionally, Microsoft might ask you to verify your security info again—for example, if you haven’t signed in for a long while. This is just Microsoft's way to double-check whether your security info is current, and to help prevent a hacker from accessing your sensitive info by pretending to be you. It won’t happen every time.

Microsoft uses security info that you provide to raise the security level of your Microsoft account by associating it with multiple forms of identification. This makes unauthorized access to your Microsoft account substantially more difficult. Also, if you ever forget your password or someone tries to access your account, we’ll be able to reach you to reestablish appropriate control of your account.

Security info helps to make unauthorized access to your account substantially more difficult. This info includes:

For more information, see: Microsoft account security info: FAQ


This tutorial will show you how to recover or verify your Microsoft account identity in Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1.




Here's How:

1. Open PC settings, and click/tap on Accounts. (see screenshot below)
Verify-1.jpg

2. Click/tap on Your account on the left side, and click/tap on the Verify link under "You need to verify your identity." on the right side. (see screenshot below)

NOTE: If you do not have a Verify link, then your Microsoft account is currently verified, and you can go to step 10 below.
Verify-2.jpg

3. Type your Microsoft account password, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

Note   Note
If you forgot or lost your password, then you can click/tap on the Can't access your account? link to go to step 5B in OPTION TWO of the tutorial below instead to reset your Microsoft account password.

How to Change or Reset Password of Your Microsoft Account in Windows 8 and 8.1


Verify-3.jpg


4. If you did not set up two-step verification for your Microsoft account, then go to step 10 below.


5. If you did set up two-step verification for your Microsoft account, then do step 6, 7, 8, or 9 below for how you would like to receive a security code to verify your account.

Note   Note
If you added this PC as a trusted device, then you may not always be asked to do two-step verification to get a code.

The options you have available to receive your code will depend on what security info you added to your Microsoft account.




6. To Receive your Code by Text Message to a Phone
A) In the drop down menu, select the Text (your phone number) option, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)​
Verify_Text-1.jpg
B) Enter the code sent as a text message to your phone, click/tap on Submit, and go to step 10 below. (see screenshots below)​
NOTE: If this option should fail, then click/tap on Use a different verification option, and go to step 5 above.​
Verify_Text-2.jpg
Text-Code.jpg

7. To Receive your Code by Automated Phone Call
A) In the drop down menu, select the Call (your phone number) option, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)​
Verify_Call_Phone.jpg
B) Enter the code given to you over the phone, click/tap on Submit, and go to step 10 below. (see screenshot below)​
NOTE: If this option should fail, then click/tap on Use a different verification option, and go to step 5 above.​
Verify_Call_Phone-2.jpg

8. To Receive your Code by Email
A) In the drop down menu, select the Email (your email address) option, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)​
Verify-Email-1.jpg
B) Enter the code sent to you in an email, click/tap on Submit, and go to step 10 below. (see screenshots below)​
NOTE: If this option should fail, then click/tap on Use a different verification option, and go to step 5 above.​
Verify-Email-2.jpg
email-code.jpg

9. To Recover your Account with your Recovery Code
NOTE: You would only want to use this option if you were unable to use the options in step 6, 7, and 8 above to get a security code, and already set up your recovery code.
A) In the drop down menu, select the I don't have these any more option, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)​
Recovery_Code-1.jpg
B) Enter your recovery code, and click/tap on Use recovery code. (see screenshots below)​
Recovery_Code-2.jpg
recovery-code.jpg
C) Enter an email address that's not currently associated with your Microsoft account to send a security code to, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)​
Recovery_Code-3.jpg
D) Enter the code sent to you in an email, and click/tap on Verify. (see screenshots below)​
Recovery_Code-4.jpg
email-code.jpg
E) You will now be provided with a new replacement recovery code. Write down or print your new recovery code, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)​
WARNING: Your recovery code is only helpful if you've printed it or written it down somewhere safe, separate from your PC or device, before there's a problem.​
Recovery_Code-5.jpg
F) Your Microsoft account has been recovered. You can either click/tap on Done to be finished, or click/tap on Enable two-step verification to turn it on. (see screenshot below)​
Recovery_Code-6.jpg
G) Go to step 1 to make sure that your Microsoft account is verified.​

10. Your Microsoft account has been verified. (see screenshot below)
Verify-4.jpg


That's it,
Shawn


 

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Last edited by a moderator:
Can't verify

When I try to verify my account I get this message: We can't connect to the service right now. Check your network connection or try this again later.
I've been trying to do this for days now and I can't figure it out, do you have any solutions?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
Hello CiD, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Are you using a proxy?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
How would I go about doing that?

When I turn the proxy server off it just comes back on. Is there another way to do it other than through the change pc settings?
 
Last edited by a moderator:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Set to have Automatically detect settings and Use automatic configuration script turned off?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
I tried that too. It doesn't give me the option to click 'apply' either.

I'm afraid that I have reached my limit of knowledge for using proxy servers. :(

If you like, create a new thread in the Network & Sharing forum to see if someone with more knowledge will be able to help you turn off and stop using a proxy server.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Just thought I'd let you know I found the problem. I had something called '7-zip' by Igor Pavlov and removed it because I didn't recognise it, the proxy server now stays off and I have been able to verify my account. Thank you for your help
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
CiD,

Odd that the free program 7-Zip would have anything to do with your proxy server since it's just an alternative ZIP program. I use it myself with any issues from it.

For more details see: 7-Zip

I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted though.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Hi everyone,
Ive recently had the same problem as above. After a scan and repair of the c drive a 'temporary' account was loaded with different wallpaper etc and no access to my files or programs. The messages flag says I need to verify the account and I get the 'unable to connect at present' phrase as the above guy CID had. I'm NOT using a proxy however and am frustrated as to how to reconnect the account and continue using my software.
Any thoughts....?
Simon
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    lenovo
    Memory
    16gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    2x2gb
Hi everyone,
Ive recently had the same problem as above. After a scan and repair of the c drive a 'temporary' account was loaded with different wallpaper etc and no access to my files or programs. The messages flag says I need to verify the account and I get the 'unable to connect at present' phrase as the above guy CID had. I'm NOT using a proxy however and am frustrated as to how to reconnect the account and continue using my software.
Any thoughts....?
Simon

Hello Simon, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Since you are getting a temporary profile error, you might see if using the tutorial below may fix this part first, then see if you are able to verify your account. :)

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/38817-youve-been-signed-temporary-profile-fix.html
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Anyone know how to change the cell phone number in the Microsoft account 2step verification process. After I set it up I see I entered the last digit incorrectly and don't see how to change this. Thank you.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
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