getting outlook verification code

hi JamesB65​ That situation is understandably stressful, especially when you’re already worried about possible account access. The message “That verification method isn’t working right now” usually means Microsoft’s SMS verification service is temporarily unavailable or rate-limited — it’s not something you did wrong. Unfortunately, when that happens, the system won’t send codes even if your phone number is correct.

A few things you can try:

Wait a few hours (or up to 24 hours) and try again. SMS verification often starts working again on its own.

If you have another option available (Authenticator app, backup email, security key), use that instead.

Try completing the password reset from a different device or network (for example, mobile data instead of Wi-Fi).

If prompted, use the account recovery form and provide as much accurate information as possible — this is often the only path when verification methods fail.

Once you regain access, I strongly recommend:

Adding Microsoft Authenticator as a backup method

Adding a secondary recovery email

Reviewing recent sign-in activity to confirm nothing suspicious remains

You’re not alone — a lot of people run into this when SMS verification has temporary issues. It’s frustrating, but access usually can be restored with a bit of time or through recovery.