Set up text messaging as your verification method

You can follow these steps to add your two-factor verification and password reset methods. After you've set this up the first time, you can return to the Security info page to add, update, or delete your security information.

Set up text messages from the Security info page

The text message option is a part of the phone option, so you'll set everything up the same way you would for your phone number, but instead of having Microsoft call you, you'll choose to use a text message.

To set up text messages

1. Sign in to your work or school account and then go to your https://myprofile.microsoft.com/ page.

   

2. Select Security info from the left navigation pane or from the link in the Security info block, and then select Add method from the Security info page.

   

3. On the Add a method page, select Phone from the drop-down list, and then select Add.

   

4. On the Phone page, type the phone number for your mobile device, choose Text me a code, and then select Next.

   

5. Type the code sent to you through text message to your mobile device, and then select Next.

   

   The page changes to show your success.

   

   Your security info is updated and you can use text messaging to verify your identity when using two-step verification or password reset.

Delete text messaging from your security info methods

If you no longer want to use text messages as a security info method, you can remove it from the Security info page.

Important

If you delete text messaging by mistake, there's no way to undo it. You'll have to add the method again, following the steps in this section of this article.

To delete text messaging

1. On the Security info page, select the Delete link next to the Phone option.

   

2. Select Yes from the confirmation box to delete the Phone number. After your phone number is deleted, it's removed from your security info and it disappears from the Security info page. If Phone is your default method, the default will change to another available method.

Change your default security info method

If you want text messaging to be the default method used when you sign in to your work or school account using two-factor verification or for password reset requests, you can set it from the Security info page.

To change your default security info method

1. On the Security info page, select the Change link next to the Default sign-in method information.

   

2. Select Phone - text (your_phone_number) from the drop-down list of available methods, and then select Confirm.

   

   The default method used for sign-in changes to Phone - text (your_phone_number).

Additional security info methods

• Email address. Enter your work or school email address to get an email for password reset. This option isn't available for two-step verification. For step-by-step instructions about how to set up your email, see Set up security info to use email.