Can’t add phone number to Microsoft account

If you can’t add a phone number to your Microsoft account, read this post to know how to fix the issue. A few users have not been able to add their phone numbers to the Microsoft account. Whenever they try to add the phone number as a security parameter or as an account alias, they couldn’t succeed. They either get an error message or are simply not able to proceed further as nothing happens when they click on an action button.

The error message varies but the problem remains the same. If you’re also facing a similar issue and can’t add a phone number to your Microsoft account, read this post.

Can’t add phone number to Microsoft account

There may be various reasons why you can’t add your phone number to the Microsoft account. Sometimes, there may be a network or browser issue, and sometimes the number you’re trying to add may already be in use with a different Microsoft account.

If you can’t add the phone number and don’t even see an error message, make sure you’re connected to the internet. Then clear your browser’s cookies and cache data. Or try using a different browser to manage your Microsoft account.

If you do see an error message, read further. In the following section, we are going to list the error messages you may get during the ‘add phone number’ process. For each error message, we will recommend proven solutions that will help you fix the issue.

This alias cannot be added to your account. Choose different alias.

A few users have encountered this error message while they were trying to add their personal phone number to the Microsoft account to complete the Teams setup. The error appears because the number is already associated with a Microsoft account. This may be a former (probably deleted) work account, an account of a family member, or an account of the previous owner of the phone number (in case the number has recently been purchased).

If you’re stuck at the same error, you should understand that you can’t add a phone number as an alias if it is associated with a Microsoft account in any way. To resolve the error, you may either add an email as an alias or use a different phone number. The email or phone number does not have to be yours; you just need to have access to it for the account verification process.

This phone number has already been taken. Sign in with that number or use a different one.

The error message clearly suggests that the phone number you’re trying to add has already been used with another Microsoft account.

To resolve the error, you may transfer the phone number if you own both accounts.

1. Sign in to the account that’s linked with the phone number.
2. Click on the Remove link next to the phone number. You can only remove this number if you have at least two account aliases. Moreover, if this is your primary alias, you need to set the other alias (phone or email) as ‘primary’, before removing this number.
3. Sign out of this account.
4. Sign in to the other Microsoft account.
5. Add phone number to this account using the ‘Add phone number’ link.

If you do not own both accounts, you have to use a different phone number.

That code didn’t work. Check the code and try again.

This error message appears when there’s an ongoing problem with the code verification service or the code may have expired already.

To resolve the issue, wait for some time and then try adding the phone number, or try requesting a new code.

Or if you do find a ‘Verify phone via Call‘ option in your account, use it to add the phone number.

The phone number you entered isn’t valid. Your phone number can contain numbers, spaces, and these special characters: ( ) [ ] . – * /

This error appears when Microsoft doesn’t recognize the format in which you’re trying to add the number. To resolve the error, make sure you’ve selected the correct country code from the available dropdown. Then try adding a ‘0’ prefix to your number. If you’ve already tried this, try again without the ‘0’ prefix.

If that doesn’t help, clear your browser’s cache and cookies or manage your Microsoft account in your browser’s InPrivate or Incognito mode.

You have requested too many codes already, so try adding different security info. Be sure to use your real phone number or email address – you can’t access your account until it’s verified.

This error appears when you request multiple verification codes on the same number. To resolve the error, you should wait for at least 24 hours before trying again.

We are unable to send the code to that number. Please provide a valid cell phone number and try again.

This error appears when Microsoft is not able to send a verification code to your phone number. This may happen when the number you’ve entered is either not active at the moment, or it has DND (Do Not Disturb) service activated.

To resolve the issue, make sure the number you’ve entered is correct and active. Then check if your phone blocks messages from unknown numbers. If so, change your phone settings. Also, reach out to your telecom provider to disable the feature and confirm if they’ve enabled international services on your phone.

If none of the above solutions help, contact Microsoft Support for further assistance.

I hope this helps.

Also Read: How to create a Microsoft Account in Windows 11.

Why won’t my Microsoft account let me add my phone number?

Your Microsoft account won’t allow adding a phone number as an alias if it’s already associated with some other Microsoft account, which may be a deleted account. Other possibilities include using an incorrect or inactive number or using the wrong format to add the phone number. There may also be network or browser issues that should be taken care of.

How can I add my phone number to my Microsoft account?

You can add a phone number to your Microsoft account as an alias (primary or other) or as a security parameter. To add the number as an alias, visit your profile and click on the Edit account info link. Then click on the Add phone number link and follow the instructions. To add the number as a security parameter, click on the Security tab and select the Advanced security options. Then click on Add a new way to sign in or verify > Show more options > Text a code and follow the instructions.

Read Next: How to find out if Microsoft Services are down or not.