Configuring preferences and options in Outlook.com
If the 560 messages are already in Junk Email, Outlook is filtering them as designed; its junk controls divert mail to Junk rather than prevent delivery to the mailbox altogether.^1^
If junk is reaching the Inbox
Make these changes in the affected MSN account—not either of the other two accounts:
- Open Outlook.com in a browser and select the affected mailbox.
- Go to Settings → Mail → Junk email.
- Add repeatedly used addresses under Blocked senders, or add the entire domain under Blocked domains, then select Save.^1^
- For fraudulent messages, select them and choose Report → Report phishing. Reporting helps improve filtering, but it does not block that sender automatically.^2^
- If messages share a stable subject, keyword, or domain, create a rule at Settings → Mail → Rules → Add new rule. Set the recurring pattern as the condition and Move to Junk or Delete as the action. Pattern-based rules are more useful than blocking individual addresses when senders continually rotate.^3^
Avoid permanent deletion initially; moving matching mail to Junk is safer until the rule has been tested against legitimate messages.
A strict allow-list option is available—trusting only Safe Senders and Recipients—but it can classify legitimate mail as junk. Add important contacts and domains to the safe list before considering that option.^4^
Check whether this is only spam exposure
A flood of incoming junk alone does not establish that somebody accessed the account. Check for stronger signs:
- Review the Microsoft account’s Recent activity page. It shows sign-ins from the previous 30 days, including device or app information.^5^
- Look for successful sign-ins you do not recognize.
- Also inspect Outlook.com under Settings → Mail → Rules and Settings → Mail → Forwarding for anything you did not create.
If there are unknown successful sign-ins, unexplained sent messages, forwarding, or rules, change the password, secure the recovery information, and enable two-step verification. Microsoft also recommends keeping Windows and antivirus protection updated.^6^
About changing the address
First determine whether the three MSN addresses are:
- Three separate Microsoft accounts, each with its own mailbox; or
- Aliases on one Microsoft account, sharing one mailbox, password, contacts, storage, and settings.^7^
Adding a new alias does not stop messages addressed to the old alias because both addresses deliver to the same mailbox. It only gives you a cleaner address to start distributing.
Stopping delivery to an old alias may eventually require removing it. Do not remove an important @msn.com address until Microsoft Support confirms the consequences for that specific address; the available account-management documentation does not establish that it can be restored afterward. Also, an existing @msn.com, @hotmail.com, @live.com, or @outlook.com address cannot be attached as an alias to another Microsoft account.[^8^](https://support.microsoft.com/outlook/something-went-wrong-with-error-addriverstoreaccessnonlocalexception#add-another-alias-to-your-account-and-make-it-the-primary-alias ""Something went wrong" with error ADDriverStoreAccessNonLocalException | Microsoft Support")
If preserving the flooded MSN address is essential, a new separate Microsoft account/mailbox is the cleaner transition: use it for important contacts while keeping the old mailbox isolated. Unlike another alias, it does not share the flooded inbox.
For mailbox-specific investigation, use Help in Outlook.com, enter the issue, then scroll to Still need help? → Yes. Support escalation is appropriate when junk still reaches the Inbox despite Outlook.com rules and blocked-domain settings.^5^
References
- Block or unblock senders in Outlook
- Phishing and suspicious behavior in Outlook | Microsoft Support
- Outlook.com issue would phishing/spam, please read details. - Microsoft Q&A
- Block or allow (junk email settings) | Microsoft Support
- Email is missing from your Outlook.com inbox | Microsoft Support
- Help protect your Outlook.com email account | Microsoft Support
- Change the email address for your Microsoft account | Microsoft Support
- "Something went wrong" with error ADDriverStoreAccessNonLocalException | Microsoft Support