IS there anyway to change the phone number on win10/ microsoft account?

[Beamin]

Recently I went shopping for lap tops. With help of this forum I found a windows surface 10. Since I bought and returned 4 laptops before this on I rushed through the sign up process and put in a fake cell phone number to receive verification texts.

. I get to the screen from settings>YourInfo> click "You Need to update some info for your Microsoft account" Click Update info

Then it has me enter PIN thats fine
Enter password to my XXXXXX@outlook.com account
Then it says send code to: And it gives a drop down with my fake phone number I entered
The only other option in the drop down is "I no longer have these"

When you click that you are brought to a microsoft page where its a generic "LOst password recovery" That asks tons of info like real name DOB state zip ETC. I don't think I ever entered that but if I did I certainly wouldn't have used my real name. I don't want to start entering stuff by guessing and mess up my account/lock out my account. Took for ever to remember the password to this computer and almost locked myself out of a brand new computer. As you guys know my memory sucks and I just got out of the hospital so my internal hard drive inside my head was partially reset. So I am resetting things up and redoing passwords.

So I want to redo the set up process this time I am writting down the info, and sure as hell not using my real name. I put in a fake phone number because I hate giving out my number but now I need to get a text.

When you go online help you just get in a loop where to change your info such as your phone number you need to get a text. Catch 22.


HELP OBDII You are my only hope!

[Beamin]

This the screen where you get sent.

Only option is "I can't verify"

And whats the Skip (4days left) option?

What happens in 4 days?


As usual Microsoft help pages suck but we have known that since the 80's.

[rdl]

Is it too late to return it and get your money back?

[Bratster]

if you're just using all fake information and don't plan actually use the Microsoft account, why are you even bothering to set it up?

You don't have to have a Microsoft account to use Windows 10, except with the possibility of some Microsoft store apps.

Sent from my Nexus 9 using Tapatalk

[Beamin]

Is it too late to return it and get your money back?

Yes, but I want to keep this one.


Seems like to get all the features of this computer its Microsoft account centric and before I can use them I have to "Verify my account" But I can't because it keeps sending me to the lost password verify info page. .


The computer is also supposed to lock when it can't find the Bluetooth(really cool feature that works like the car keys where you just walk away from and up to the car and it unlocks automatically without touching the key fob) on my phone but it doesn't seem to care if the phones Bluetooth is on or not.

[Beamin]

In typical Microsoft fashion I did the same thing over and over the same way each time and I got the phone number changed. Never did figure out the 4 days thing.

If you need to true unhackable quantum scale uncertainty random number generator, base it off of windows, where doing the same thing in the exact same way gives you different results, outcomes and error messages.

But on a related note when some computer programs crash its due to corrupted bits in the RAM caused by cosmic rays or natural background radiation, read that in wired magazine about 15 years ago. Sounds plausible. 

[tooki]

So you CAN log in now, right? Go into the account on microsoft.com, into your info, then contact info, and change the phone number to a real one.

And then don’t EVER get the bright idea of using a fake phone number for security verification again! That’s just asking to get yourself locked out of an account! Using fake info for accounts like this (which you aren’t using for public forums or whatever) is beyond stupid, sorry. (Remember, they allow fake display names for public-facing services, so you can have the real name for Microsoft, and fake info for the public.)

As for the 4 days, it’s saying you can defer the verification process by 4 days.

[Beamin]

So you CAN log in now, right? Go into the account on microsoft.com, into your info, then contact info, and change the phone number to a real one.

And then don’t EVER get the bright idea of using a fake phone number for security verification again! That’s just asking to get yourself locked out of an account! Using fake info for accounts like this (which you aren’t using for public forums or whatever) is beyond stupid, sorry. (Remember, they allow fake display names for public-facing services, so you can have the real name for Microsoft, and fake info for the public.)

As for the 4 days, it’s saying you can defer the verification process by 4 days.

I am more worried about Microsoft selling my info then linking it to my real name through my phone number. I dread the day the PC is like my cell phone where I have no privacy on it, because I downloaded an app and didn't carefully read the fine print, or in the case of my cell phone its an app I have to have so I just keep personal info on my phone to a minimum, sucks but I like my privacy. Did you know "weather.com or weatherchannel.com is not a weather company or weather based web company? Its a location data mining company where its has nothing to do with weather, just following you around and selling that info. I wish when you downloaded that app you had a shady guy in a trench coat with a clip board and camera and would follow you around 24/7 documenting everything you do and taking pictures. People would flip out, but that's what they are doing with their cell phones!

[tooki]

Well, in all likelihood your number is already linked to your name (and tons of other information) in dozens of databases.

You can always do something like set up a Google Voice number to keep your “real” number private. Just beware that some services won’t accept these.

As for Weather channel: I stick to iOS’s built-in weather app. It uses the Weather Channel’s data, but doesn’t share your data with them. (In general, Apple has been really good about protecting privacy. Not perfect, but vastly better than any competitor.)

(Woo, 3000th post!)

[Beamin]

Well, in all likelihood your number is already linked to your name (and tons of other information) in dozens of databases.

You can always do something like set up a Google Voice number to keep your “real” number private. Just beware that some services won’t accept these.

As for Weather channel: I stick to iOS’s built-in weather app. It uses the Weather Channel’s data, but doesn’t share your data with them. (In general, Apple has been really good about protecting privacy. Not perfect, but vastly better than any competitor.)

(Woo, 3000th post!)

Weather channel isn't a weather company they are listed by the SEC as a "location data services company" So stealing your GPS data and then reselling it. How many people realize that they are using a product where they are the product or rather have no idea whats actually going on? Seems incredibly deceptive and if they told people this outside hard to read "TOS" most probably wouldn't use it pay for one that doesn't cost your privacy.


Weather underground seems like a good ap but I turn off after as with all my apps.

[tooki]

While it is correct that the Weather Channel is now being accused of massive undisclosed location data collection, it’s complete nonsense to claim that they’re listed as a data collection company by the SEC. (And besides, weather data is data that has to do with locations).

[amyk]

Microsoft, this is exactly why those tech support scams ("hello, this is Microsoft and there is something wrong with your computer...") work.

[tooki]

Microsoft, this is exactly why those tech support scams ("hello, this is Microsoft and there is something wrong with your computer...") work.

So you'd instead want them to not have a recovery method?

I'd also be willing to bet that many people who fall for tech support scams have never registered with Microsoft to begin with.

[Richard Crowley]

In general, Apple has been really good about protecting privacy. Not perfect, but vastly better than any competitor.)

I have almost $1000 worth of Apple devices that are essentially bricked and useless because I can't recover my Apple account.  My experience with Apple makes this exercise look like a walk in the park.  I don't even remember how many times I have tried to recover the account and made to wait 21 days for a recovery email that never comes, etc.  Just another reason for my visceral disdain of Apple and everything it stands for.

[tooki]

In general, Apple has been really good about protecting privacy. Not perfect, but vastly better than any competitor.)

I have almost $1000 worth of Apple devices that are essentially bricked and useless because I can't recover my Apple account.  My experience with Apple makes this exercise look like a walk in the park.  I don't even remember how many times I have tried to recover the account and made to wait 21 days for a recovery email that never comes, etc.  Just another reason for my visceral disdain of Apple and everything it stands for.

It's a no-win situation: Apple made it much harder to recover a lost Apple ID after a few high profile cases of fraudulent account recovery, where complex social engineering was used to gather a little piece from here, a little piece from there, another from there (i.e. one company will give you the phone number, another gives you the street address, another the ZIP code, etc.) until they had enough to convince the Apple rep that the recovery was legit. So they really tightened up the process. On the balance, that's a good thing, but I do think there needs to be some way of providing exceptions, even if it requires something like a criminal background check to prevent fraud.

[TheNewLab]

All great posts above.

set up a google account with a fake name. set another again..use one for all that BS tracking and sending constant emails on something you signed on or joined just for a single purpose. the other for that backup email for when you forget your UID or password.

Could download the Burner app or similar to your phone and use that..at least keep it for a few months until you have everything updated and added all the apps you need. Browser and email clients can be updated without Microsoft.

regarding passwords and stuff. I know they say "don't write down!" but it is hopeless now. Just start using a notebook or binder for all your passwords and PINS and all. They actually those notebooks designed for passwords. at office supply stores. just keep the book at home..If you're really concerned about privacy..lock it in a drawer with a key..

reversing direction here. there are password applications for phones, computers even older PIMs (personal information device.) I use both an app I keep offline, another on the machine, and a paper copy in a book I keep at home..I am truly PASSWORD RETARDED..LOL!
No really seriously!.. friends laugh at me when I have to re-enter a password!!

[Beamin]

In general, Apple has been really good about protecting privacy. Not perfect, but vastly better than any competitor.)

I have almost $1000 worth of Apple devices that are essentially bricked and useless because I can't recover my Apple account.  My experience with Apple makes this exercise look like a walk in the park.  I don't even remember how many times I have tried to recover the account and made to wait 21 days for a recovery email that never comes, etc.  Just another reason for my visceral disdain of Apple and everything it stands for.

I didn't know that. I had someone buy my iPhone and the store set it up so it says "Customerphone" and have no idea about any apple account other then my pin. When I got my last one they had me hook it to computer and set it all up since I couldn't see the screen and turned my new iPhone 7 back into the iphone6 that I upgraded from. I lost some of the new apps which seems dumb to me. Why would you buy a new phone and have the features of the old one?


How do you find this out, or prevent this? Luckily for me I just found a book with half my passwords in it. Still don't have the account info for my binance account. More lost bitcoins.


Can you make an encrypted or otherwise secure word file with your passwords then somehow store in gmail/ google drive? so no matter where you are you always have a master list of passwords. I used to do this with my resume and got sponsored for a stock brokers license by having a resume I printed off the nearest computer. This was when the internet was still young so they were quite impressed I could just produce a resume on the spot.

[tooki]

I didn't know that. I had someone buy my iPhone and the store set it up so it says "Customerphone" and have no idea about any apple account other then my pin. When I got my last one they had me hook it to computer and set it all up since I couldn't see the screen and turned my new iPhone 7 back into the iphone6 that I upgraded from. I lost some of the new apps which seems dumb to me. Why would you buy a new phone and have the features of the old one?

You don't, and you didn't. You can't downgrade an iOS device to an older version of iOS, let alone one from another model. When you migrate from one device to another (which is, at its core, a backup to either iCloud or iTunes, and then a restore from that backup to another device), the OS on the new device remains as it was, and your user data is copied, together with settings, and apps are reinstalled. The only apps you can lose in such a migration are ones that don't run on the new device, if the latter is running a newer OS version and the old apps haven't been upgraded to support the new OS. Also, if on the old phone you deleted some of the default iOS apps, then on the new one you can still return to the App Store and reinstall them.

How do you find this out, or prevent this?

There's nothing to prevent. Whatever happened isn't what you think happened.

Luckily for me I just found a book with half my passwords in it. Still don't have the account info for my binance account. More lost bitcoins.

What does this have to do with your iPhone upgrade?!

Can you make an encrypted or otherwise secure word file with your passwords then somehow store in gmail/ google drive? so no matter where you are you always have a master list of passwords. I used to do this with my resume and got sponsored for a stock brokers license by having a resume I printed off the nearest computer. This was when the internet was still young so they were quite impressed I could just produce a resume on the spot.

Of course you can do this, but using proper password manager software is a vastly wiser approach than a Word or Excel document. (Remember that the password protection in Office is trivial to circumvent, since it doesn't actually encrypt the data within.)