Help with changing Outlook 2FA contact details

[DB_SamX]

I came to find out this week that my dad's Microsoft Outlook 2FA details are completely screwed up.

He has a primary hotmail email address (let's call it email 1) with 2FA set up. The backup email address to receive codes is somehow email address 1 itself!!! How this was accepted is beyond my comprehension, as I would assume Microsoft would automatically deny it, but anyway it is what it is. His phone number to receive codes is to a typical UK landline phone i.e. one that cannot receive codes! It seems he was naive when he set both of these up years ago.

I tried to reset the 2FA details by sending codes to both backup email address 1, and the phone, but in both cases, no codes were forthcoming. He is therefore stuck if he ever forgets his password or needs 2FA authentication.

He now has a gmail account that is ideal to be backup email address, as well as a mobile phone that can receive messages.

Could anyone recommend a solution or suggestion for me/him to change his 2FA details?

If there is no software/Microsoft solution, I guess we could try to find a landline phone that can receive texts?

(posted on MS community forums too)

 

[Glanza]

Try going here and see if you can remove MFA and set it back up

Sign in to your Microsoft account

account.microsoft.com

 

[Semple]

I assume he no longer has access to the account on any device? That might be a support call required - worth pointing out to them the stupidity of their system allowing the primary device for receiving codes being the actual device you need said code to obtain.

I also imagine that adding second devices don't require verification either? - as normally that would have sent a code to the phone number to authenticate the device during setup.

 

[DB_SamX]

I assume he no longer has access to the account on any device? That might be a support call required - worth pointing out to them the stupidity of their system allowing the primary device for receiving codes being the actual device you need said code to obtain.

I also imagine that adding second devices don't require verification either? - as normally that would have sent a code to the phone number to authenticate the device during setup.

No, he does still have access to the account on all his devices. But any changes to security seems to require 2fa. I'm trying to sort it out before it becomes a problem and/or he loses access by accident.

 

[DB_SamX]

Try going here and see if you can remove MFA and set it back up

Sign in to your Microsoft account

account.microsoft.com

Thanks. I think this is whete they're are the most options to resolve the issue. Forwarded to my brother ans he's managed to add a new phone number but it'll take 30 days, but not an issue to wait.