Have been locked out of my hotmail account

Question

Have been locked out of my hotmail account

Robert Smith 20

I have spent the last 24 hours trying to recover my hotmail account. I had a message pop-up on my email page saying "something went wrong. sign in again for this account" when I click on verify your email appears. and sends a code to an old email I used to have but cannot access this email is not on my list of accounts. Have been through account recovery several times. I then received a notification that I had reached the recovery limit. I have tried several times again today and again been informed "reached recovery limit" I am at my wits end and all emails sent in the last 24 hours have not been delivered.

.. Bob.

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Answer accepted by question author

Harold Milan 17,635 Independent Advisor

Hi Robert,

e reason this happens is because Microsoft’s security system enforces strict limits on recovery attempts to protect accounts from unauthorized access or automated attacks. When too many resets or verification requests occur in a short period, the system temporarily locks further attempts even if you’re the legitimate owner. This cooldown can last up to 24–48 hours, and during this time, even correct information won’t work.

What you can do now is:

Wait for the cooldown to clear Avoid additional recovery attempts for at least 24 hours. More attempts can extend the lockout.

Prepare for the next recovery attempt

Gather details Microsoft might ask: old passwords, subject lines of recent emails, folder names, and your account creation date.

Make sure you have access to your backup email or phone number.

Add extra recovery options once you regain access

Set up multiple recovery emails and phone numbers.

Enable Microsoft Authenticator or two-step verification for stronger security.

If you still can’t access after 48 hours Contact Microsoft Support directly using a different account and explain that you’ve reached the recovery limit and need assistance unlocking your account.

Let me know how it goes, Happy to help!

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Answer 1

It sounds like you're experiencing a frustrating situation with your Hotmail account recovery. Here are some steps you can take to address the issue:

Check Account Recovery Options: Ensure that you are using the most current recovery options available. If you have access to any other email accounts or phone numbers linked to your Hotmail account, try using those for recovery.
Wait and Retry: Since you have reached the recovery limit, it may be necessary to wait for a certain period before attempting the recovery process again. Microsoft typically imposes limits to prevent abuse, so waiting a few days might help.
Contact Microsoft Support: If you continue to have issues, consider reaching out to Microsoft Support for assistance. They may be able to provide additional options for recovering your account.
Create a New Account: If recovery proves impossible, you might need to create a new Hotmail account. Be sure to set up recovery options that are accessible to you.
Prevent Future Issues: Once you regain access, consider setting up an emergency access account or updating your recovery information to prevent similar issues in the future.

Unfortunately, I cannot provide specific recovery steps for Hotmail as it is not covered in the provided context. However, these general steps should guide you in the right direction.

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