change login email

Michael Johnson 0 Reputation points
2026-11-07T01:38:41.7566667+00:00

The email for my Microsoft login is no longer valid. How do I change it?

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Windows Hello, lock screen and sign-in
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  1. EmilyS726 278.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-11-07T02:15:12.5533333+00:00

    Your question can refer to more than one scenario -

    Scenario 1:

    If you use a third party email address to sign into your account, and this email address is no longer valid and you cannot get the 2FA verification code, as long as you have the correct number, sign into https://account.live.com, when prompted for the 2FA code, look for an option like “Show more verification methods” to see if you have a backup (e.g., a phone number or alternate email).

    If you don’t have access to any of the options listed, select “I don’t have any of these.” This will begin the recovery process. As part of that process, Microsoft will let you add new contact information — but only after a 30-day waiting period.

    This 30-day delay is intentional. It’s a security safeguard designed to protect users in case someone else tries to hijack their account by changing recovery info. The wait gives the rightful owner time to notice and stop unauthorized changes.

    Unfortunately, this policy cannot be bypassed. Microsoft explains it further here.

    https://support.microsoft.com/account-billing/-your-security-info-change-is-still-pending-or-you-can-t-access-this-site-right-now-microsoft-account-message-cbd0f64f-02d9-45d2-90c3-2375e5a72e52#:~:text=While%20we%20understand%20this%2030,phone%20number%20or%20email%20address.

    ======================

    Scenario 2:

    If you mean you have an hotmail.com or outlook.com address, and it has been closed and you can no longer sign into Windows using that account, then that's a different story.

    Create a new Microsoft account, and on your computer, can you still sign in using PIN?

    If so, once you sign in,

    1. Type netplwiz in the search on the taskbar and hit enter. When launched, click on "Add". Go ahead and sign into the new Microsoft account.
    2. When the above user is created, back to the main netplwiz page, double click on this new user, go to the Group Membership tab, make it administrator. Save the change.
    3. Restart the computer. Sign into the new user you created in Step 1.
    4. If you have data at the old username folder, go to C:\users\old username folder, find them and copy them into C:\users\new username folder.
    5. Type sysdm.cpl in the search on the taskbar and hit enter, go to Advanced tab, click on the "Settings" button at the User Profile section. Then delete the old user profile.
    6. Launch netplwiz again, delete the old user from there.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-11-07T01:39:16.31+00:00

    Add the new email as an alias of the same Microsoft account, make it primary, and only then remove the obsolete address; this preserves the account’s files, subscriptions, storage, contacts, settings, and password.^1^

    Change the sign-in email

    1. Open the Microsoft account Manage how you sign in page: https://account.live.com/names/manage
    2. Sign in to the Microsoft account currently connected to Windows.
    3. Select Add email.
    4. Either:
      • Add another email address you already own, or
      • Create a new Outlook.com address.
    5. Complete the verification sent to the new address.
    6. Beside the new address, select Make primary. The primary alias is the address displayed on Microsoft devices, including the Windows PC.^2^
    7. Confirm that the new address works for signing in.
    8. If desired, return to the alias page and select Remove beside the obsolete address.

    This changes the address on the existing Microsoft account rather than creating a different Windows user account.

    Important restrictions

    • Do not remove the old address before the new one has been added, verified, and made primary.
    • Removing a Microsoft-owned address ending in @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, or @live.com permanently deletes that address, and it cannot be reclaimed.^3^ Consider leaving it attached if there is any possibility that it will still be needed.
    • An address already associated with another Microsoft account cannot be added as an alias. Existing Outlook.com, Hotmail.com, Live.com, and MSN.com addresses also cannot be moved in as aliases from another Microsoft account.[^4^](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")
    • Personal Microsoft accounts and Microsoft 365 work or school accounts cannot be merged.^2^

    If the invalid address prevents sign-in

    Use Microsoft’s guided sign-in support tool from the account-change article.^1^ If account verification is required, replacing the sign-in alias and replacing the security email are separate operations: after regaining access, add a working recovery email or authentication method before removing the closed one.^5^

    Microsoft support agents cannot directly change account details or send password-reset links.^1^

    References

    1. Change the email address for your Microsoft account | Microsoft Support
    2. Which account do you want to use? | Microsoft Support
    3. Can I change the email address that is connected to my Clipchamp account? | Microsoft Support
    4. "Something went wrong" with error ADDriverStoreAccessNonLocalException | Microsoft Support
    5. How to remove.a Closed email account as the verification for login and replace with another email - Microsoft Q&A
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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