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How to create an Outlook email without a phone number

Learn how to create an Outlook account without a phone number, how to recover your account, and options for keeping access when traveling abroad

Outlook allows people to create an account without a phone number and currently requires adding a valid email address to complete this process.

This guide covers everything related to how to create an Outlook account without a phone number, as well as how to recover an account and how to use Holafly Plans as a shortcut to Outlook.

In this article

Does Outlook require a phone number to sign up?

Yes, but this isn’t mandatory. When creating a Microsoft account, you can use an email to sign up instead.

How to create an Outlook email without a phone number

To get an Outlook account, you need to create a Microsoft account first.

These are the steps to follow:

Head over to the Microsoft site and tap the Sign In button.
Click the Create an account button and enter a valid email address.
Enter the verification code sent by Microsoft.
Set up your personal details and complete the registration process.

How to recover an Outlook email without a phone number

Using a phone number to recover an Outlook account isn’t the only option available to its users.

Here’s what you need to know:

When trying to log in to your account, press Forgot your username?.
Enter the email address associated with your account.
Enter the verification code sent to your email.

Why does Microsoft ask for a phone number

Microsoft asks for a phone number to help with account recovery.

However, this isn’t mandatory, as people can recover their account using a recovery email instead.

Keeping access to your Outlook account while traveling

While abroad, you might lose access to your Outlook account if you use a different internet service.

Here are some options to get access to your Outlook account at all times:

Save your login details on your phone using Google Password Manager or a similar service.
Activate the Microsoft Authenticator as a login option to avoid using an email or phone number.
Deactivate the phone number as a recovery option.

Getting a virtual phone number with Holafly Plans

Even though Outlook doesn’t demand using a valid phone number, you’ll still need internet access for verification and recovery, especially when traveling.

Your best option is to get Holafly Plans, which offer coverage in 160 destinations with up to unlimited data and hotspot data.

Plus, you get a virtual phone number you can use to verify other services, such as Uber without a personal phone number.

You also get access to the Always On perk, which gives you 1 GB of backup data at no extra cost, so you can keep using your Outlook account everywhere you go.

FAQs about Outlook email without a phone number

How do I recover my Outlook email without a phone number?

You can use an email address to recover your Outlook account.

Can I create an Outlook account with just an email address?

Yes. People can create an Outlook account with a valid email address that is not a corporate or educational account.

What happens if the phone number on my Outlook account no longer works?

People can still access their Outlook account with a recovery email address and activate 2FA if needed.

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Julio Osuna

English Content Writer

I first started my content creation journey as a freelancer in 2019, before connecting with Holafly in 2021. At Holafly, my travel and tech interests come together in one place as I craft high-quality articles about the eSIM and related markets. My content aims to help travelers stay connected, wherever they are.

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