jekyll build of commit feecc66

Author: sourcejedi

2026/04/20/microsoft-contact-info.html

@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ <h1 class="post-title p-name" itemprop="name headline">Do Microsoft accounts req
 
 <p>Video example: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS6WC9qeJTQ">How To Create a Microsoft Account</a>, by Aldo James (2025-12-30).</p>
 
-<p>At the end of Aldo’s video, he opens the Privacy section in Microsoft account.  Before he can actually use the Privacy section, he is required to add contact info.</p>
+<p>At the end of this video, Aldo opens the Privacy section in Microsoft account.  Before he can actually use the Privacy section, he is required to add contact info.</p>
 
 <p>The same requirement applies to the “Manage how I sign in” page, in the Security section.</p>
 
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ <h1 class="post-title p-name" itemprop="name headline">Do Microsoft accounts req
   <li><a href="#what-types-of-contact-information-can-i-use" id="markdown-toc-what-types-of-contact-information-can-i-use">What types of contact information can I use?</a></li>
   <li><a href="#what-if-i-dont-have-another-email-address" id="markdown-toc-what-if-i-dont-have-another-email-address">What if I don’t have another email address?</a></li>
   <li><a href="#can-i-use-microsoft-authenticator-as-the-contact-information-for-my-account" id="markdown-toc-can-i-use-microsoft-authenticator-as-the-contact-information-for-my-account">Can I use Microsoft Authenticator as the contact information for my account?</a></li>
-  <li><a href="#i-dont-want-to-add-contact-information--could-i-write-down-a-recovery-code-instead" id="markdown-toc-i-dont-want-to-add-contact-information--could-i-write-down-a-recovery-code-instead">I don’t want to add contact information.  Could I write down a Recovery Code instead?</a></li>
+  <li><a href="#i-dont-want-to-add-contact-information--could-i-write-down-a-recovery-code-instead" id="markdown-toc-i-dont-want-to-add-contact-information--could-i-write-down-a-recovery-code-instead">I don’t want to add contact information.  Could I write down a recovery code instead?</a></li>
   <li><a href="#why-is-contact-information-required-by-microsoft-account-even-though-i-have-an-outlookcom-email" id="markdown-toc-why-is-contact-information-required-by-microsoft-account-even-though-i-have-an-outlookcom-email">Why is contact information required by Microsoft account (even though I have an Outlook.com email)?</a></li>
   <li><a href="#if-my-contact-information-stops-working-will-i-lose-my-account" id="markdown-toc-if-my-contact-information-stops-working-will-i-lose-my-account">If my contact information stops working, will I lose my account?</a></li>
   <li><a href="#sidenote-what-do-they-do-with-my-main-email-address" id="markdown-toc-sidenote-what-do-they-do-with-my-main-email-address">Sidenote: What do they do with my <em>main</em> email address?</a></li>
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ <h2 id="can-you-use-a-windows-pc-without-adding-contact-information">Can you use
 
 <p>It appears possible to avoid the requirement above, for the “Manage how I sign in” page.</p>
 
-<p>Create your Microsoft account during Windows setup, or in the Settings app.  Then follow these steps:</p>
+<p>Create your Microsoft account in the Settings app, or during Windows setup.  Then follow these steps:</p>
 
 <ol>
   <li>Use your Microsoft account to sign in to Windows.</li>
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ <h2 id="how-can-they-force-me-to-add-contact-information">How can they force me
 
 <p>Microsoft can require you to add contact info when you use a security feature.</p>
 
-<p>This can happen when you sign in on a new device.  I saw this myself, a few days after I created my test account.</p>
+<p>When you want to sign in on a new device, Microsoft can require contact info.  I saw this myself, a few days after I created my test account.</p>
 
 <p>Currently, contact info is also required to turn on two-step verification - a top tip from <a href="https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/top-tips-for-staying-secure-online/activate-2-step-verification-on-your-email">Cyber Aware</a> experts - or to “go passwordless”, as per <a href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/how-to-help-keep-your-microsoft-account-secure-628538c2-7006-33bb-5ef4-c917657362b9">Microsoft security guidance</a>.</p>
 
@@ -189,9 +189,9 @@ <h2 id="can-i-use-microsoft-authenticator-as-the-contact-information-for-my-acco
 
 <p>(Also, when I tried to add “Use an app” on the “Manage how I sign in” page, without having added contact information, it simply refreshed the page without doing anything.  So I don’t expect you can do that, either.)</p>
 
-<p>Once I had added an alternative email address to my test account, I was not able to remove it.  It said that I needed to add a new alternative email address first.  There was no other alternative.  Even though I had added Microsoft Authenticator to my account (as well as a non-Microsoft authenticator app, and a passkey).</p>
+<p>Once I had added a recovery email address to my test account, I was not able to remove it.  It said that I needed to add a new email address first.  There was no other alternative.  Even though I had added Microsoft Authenticator to my account (as well as a non-Microsoft authenticator app, and a passkey).</p>
 
-<p>I simulated losing the alternative email address for this test account, and recovering the account using a saved “Microsoft Account Recovery Code”.  I was required to add a new alternative email address.  There was no other alternative.</p>
+<p>I simulated losing the recovery email address for my test account, and recovering the account using a saved “Microsoft account recovery code”.  I was required to add a new email address.  There was no other option.</p>
 
 <p>At the end of Aldo’s 2025 video (above), the Privacy page required him to add an alternative email address, or a mobile number.  There were no other options.</p>
 
@@ -200,13 +200,13 @@ <h2 id="can-i-use-microsoft-authenticator-as-the-contact-information-for-my-acco
 Link: https://support.xbox.com/en-US/help/family-online-safety/online-safety/update-security-information
 -->
 
-<h2 id="i-dont-want-to-add-contact-information--could-i-write-down-a-recovery-code-instead">I don’t want to add contact information.  Could I write down a Recovery Code instead?</h2>
+<h2 id="i-dont-want-to-add-contact-information--could-i-write-down-a-recovery-code-instead">I don’t want to add contact information.  Could I write down a recovery code instead?</h2>
 
 <p>Based on my testing, this is not possible.</p>
 
-<p>I have tried generating a Microsoft Account Recovery Code (in “Manage how I sign in”) without adding contact info.  This failed, saying there was a “temporary problem”.</p>
+<p>I have tried generating a Microsoft account recovery code (in “Manage how I sign in”) without adding contact info.  This failed, saying there was a “temporary problem”.</p>
 
-<p>On a different account which does have contact information, there was no problem generating a recovery code.</p>
+<p>On a different account, which does have contact information, there was no problem generating a recovery code.</p>
 
 <h2 id="why-is-contact-information-required-by-microsoft-account-even-though-i-have-an-outlookcom-email">Why is contact information required by Microsoft account (even though I have an Outlook.com email)?</h2>
 
@@ -226,14 +226,19 @@ <h2 id="if-my-contact-information-stops-working-will-i-lose-my-account">If my co
 
 <p>As long as you have at least one other sign-in method, you will be able to update your contact info.</p>
 
-<p>When you need to replace all your existing contact info, you might have to go through a recovery process.  The recovery process will take 30 days to replace your contact info.</p>
+<p>If all of your contact info is out of date, it may take 30 days to replace it.  During this recovery period, you might not be able to sign in on a new device.</p>
 
-<p>During the 30 day recovery process, you might not be able to sign in on a new device, if you don’t have the right kind of verification.  You may be able to sign back in on a “trusted device” (a device and browser where you have signed in before).</p>
+<!-- TODO: the passkey question. -->
 
 <p>References:</p>
 
 <ul>
-  <li><a href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/what-does-security-info-change-is-still-pending-mean-cbd0f64f-02d9-45d2-90c3-2375e5a72e52">What does “Security info change is still pending” mean?</a></li>
+  <li>
+    <p><a href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/troubleshoot-microsoft-verification-code-issues-409090c4-92b5-42b9-8ae6-bcc97e62fc48">Troubleshoot Microsoft verification code issues</a>.  See “I’ve lost access to my Microsoft account security info”.</p>
+  </li>
+  <li>
+    <p><a href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/what-does-security-info-change-is-still-pending-mean-cbd0f64f-02d9-45d2-90c3-2375e5a72e52">What does “Security info change is still pending” mean?</a></p>
+  </li>
 </ul>
 
 <h2 id="sidenote-what-do-they-do-with-my-main-email-address">Sidenote: What do they do with my <em>main</em> email address?</h2>