Unable to recover Microsoft Hotmail account, please help!

[RandomUsernameHere]

I got an email saying “We think that someone else might have accessed the Microsoft account …. When this happens, we require you to verify your identity with a security challenge and then change your password the next time you sign in.”
The text message verification is not working, each time I enter the last four digits of my phone number, nothing happens. I then have to fill out the account recovery form by giving an alternative email address. I receive the initial code but then no response to the account recovery form, I’ve done this around 20 times now using 3 different email addresses and no response received. Does anyone know how I can get my account back? Getting desperate now!

Try from a different browser?
I would try via MS Edge, it should be the most compatible with Hotmail.

@biztecathank you, I already tried using Edge on my laptop and Safari on my phone. Will try Edge again today though 🤞

Can you confirm the steps that occurred.

For example:

1. I logged into my hotmail account, without issue
2. I received an email, that stated "We think that someone else might have accessed the Microsoft account …. When this happens, we require you to verify your identity with a security challenge and then change your password the next time you sign in.”
3. I clicked a link in the email received in step 2, etc....

@Dbankthanks for replying

1. All working fine without issue.
2. Received the email copied in the OP, which is the last email I was able to receive.
3. Not sure if I clicked on the link in the email or whether I opened the login page separately (maybe more likely it was the latter, in case it was a fraudulent email).
4. Entered the last four digits of my mobile number, but no text message received. This has been the case every time I’ve tried.
5. Filled in the account recovery form. The first time I did it I received a response saying the information provided was insufficient, but to submit a new form up to two times per day.
6. Since then I’ve repeatedly submitted the form once or twice per day but no response has been received at all.

Okay, thanks for taking the time to clarify your steps.

In step 2, were you logged in to Hotmail via a web browser? and if so are you no longer able to log into the account?

Do the emails sent to the account bounce with any helpful response, or do they just disappear into the ether?

I had that. Nothing worked. But after a few days I tried logging in again and it was fine.

It still happens every now and then and I just wait.

I'm also moving my emails away from hotmail.

I would probably get a new email and start moving across, obviously get your old one sorted and then forward anything you want to keep but Hotmail is like a legacy account so probably not the best

I've had this happen. The hacker had changed my recovery phone number.

Unfortunately the only way I was able to "solve" it was set up a new email address and change the email in all my accounts!

Going forward, even if you still use e.g. the same password for all you shopping accounts, make sure email is something different and strong. That's the most important one of all.

I think they got into mine because someone I'd bought something from had a data breach.

Thank you everyone for taking the time to reply. I don’t think the hacker has changed the recovery phone number as the last two digits are still the same. The account had a unique password, not one I have used elsewhere.
@Dbank I was logged in through the email app on iPhone. Just sent a test email from two different accounts and no bounce back response received for either, the emails just appear to be sent as normal.

So you have control of the hotmail account, the issue is that you're not able to receive emails on this account or complete the verification request that is required for you to receive emails to the account?

Make sure you have not reached your limit of data usage on Hotmail. I've had my account over 20 years and I frequently have to go through deleting old emails or it clogs up and I start to get those messages. Once I declog the problem goes away.

@Dbank I don’t think I have control of the account because I’m not able to log in to it at all. I need to verify the account is mine in order to get control of it but the process isn’t working.

I don't think I can help you any further, I suggest raising a support ticket.

@Dbank thanks so much for trying.

@RandomUsernameHereim having trouble getting into my email after too many unsuccessful log in attempts, it won’t even allow me to send recover codes. I think excessive or repeated attempts blocks it. Did you ever manage to get back into your emails? I think I just need to accept I won’t be able to get back in to it. In the process of trying to get my email changed for all the things I can remember

No unfortunately I never got back in! I was never getting the codes sent to my phone and couldn’t recover it using the form. Annoyingly it only happened because someone tried to hack into my account.

@RandomUsernameHerethanks for the quick reply I think I am accepting I won’t be getting back into it.