Can't sign-in to Outlook or 365

Follow these steps in order, based on what has already been tried and what is known about Microsoft account sign-in issues:

1. Confirm the account is healthy using the Sign-in Helper
   • Go to the Microsoft account sign-in helper: Sign-in Helper.
   • Enter the Outlook email address or phone number used to sign in.
   • Complete the flow so it can detect any account-specific problems (lock, security hold, unusual activity). If a problem is detected, follow the exact steps it provides.
2. Recover the account when the password stops working again Since the password works briefly and then fails, treat this as a security/lockout scenario rather than a simple forgotten password.
   • Use the dedicated recovery flow: Recover your account.
   • Enter the Outlook email address, phone number, or Skype name.
   • When prompted for a security code, choose any working method (alternate email, phone, etc.).
   • Complete the verification and set a new password.
   • Tips from the official guidance:
     • Ensure the correct domain is used (for example, outlook.com vs outlook.co.uk, hotmail.com, etc.).
     • Double-check spelling of the email name (for example, rachel vs rachael).
     • If one alias is not recognized, try another alias or phone number on the same account.
3. Address the “account not recognized” or repeated password failure If at any point the sign-in or recovery flow shows messages like “We couldn’t find an account with that username” or behaves as if the account does not exist, use the specific guidance for that case:
   • Follow the steps in My username and password have stopped working:
     • Start again from Recover your account.
     • If the email is not recognized, try another alias or phone number on the account.
   • If the issue persists and the username is still not recognized, use the Contact support option from that article to reach a support advocate and state that the username has stopped working.
4. If sign-in issues continue after a successful reset If the password reset succeeds but Outlook/365 sign-in fails again shortly afterward (as described):
   • Sign in first at the main Microsoft account portal (account.microsoft.com) with the new password to confirm it is valid.
   • Once confirmed, try Outlook/365 again on the web as described in the Microsoft 365 sign-in article:
     • Go to www.microsoft365.com and select Sign In.
     • Enter the same email and password.
   • If this still fails while the main account sign-in works, use the “can’t sign in” path for Microsoft 365 which routes back to the sign-in helper: Sign-in helper.
5. If verification codes are not received on the phone Because sign-in by phone number/code used to work and now does not, treat this as a verification-code issue:
   • Follow the official troubleshooting for verification codes: troubleshooting steps (linked from the “I can’t sign in” article).
   • If none of the code methods work and no security info is accessible, complete the Microsoft account recovery form (linked from the “Help with the Microsoft account recovery form” entry) with as much accurate information as possible.
6. If still locked in a loop after all of the above
   • Use the Help with the Microsoft account recovery form link from the “I can’t sign in to my Microsoft account” article to refine the recovery attempt.
   • If the username is recognized but sign-in continues to fail and the helper tool does not resolve it, use the Contact support option from My username and password have stopped working and explain:
     • The error code 0x80048823 when signing into Outlook/365.
     • That the main Microsoft account sign-in works.
     • That password resets only work temporarily and then fail.
     • That phone verification codes are no longer received.

These steps align with Microsoft’s official flows for accounts where the password is correct or recently reset but sign-in repeatedly fails, and where verification codes are not being delivered.

References:

• I can't sign in to my Microsoft account
• My username and password have stopped working
• Sign in to Microsoft 365