My login is wrong

The Outlook/Microsoft account sign-in and verification issues need to be fixed first; once the Microsoft account works correctly, the Xbox/Activision/Steam linking will also work as expected.

Follow these steps in order:

1. Confirm the correct Microsoft account

• Make sure the email address being used to sign in is exactly the one used on the working Xbox profile (correct spelling and correct domain, for example .com vs .co.uk).
• If the username is not recognized or seems wrong, follow the guidance in My username and password have stopped working and try any other alias/phone/Skype name that might be on the account.
  • Start from Recover your account and enter the email/phone/Skype used for Xbox: Recover your account

2. Fix the “wrong email / live.com address” verification issue If the verification code is being sent to a @live.com address that is not accessible:

• Sign in to the Security basics page for the Microsoft account that still works (the one used successfully on other sites and games): Sign in
• Select Update info.
• If there is a working phone or alternate email, choose that to verify.
• If none of the listed methods are accessible, choose I don't have any of these and follow the flow to replace security info.

If the alternate email is another Microsoft address (Outlook/Hotmail/Live/MSN):

• Use a private/incognito browser session so both accounts can stay signed in:
  1. Open a browser in privacy mode (for example, Ctrl+Shift+P in Microsoft Edge).
  2. Sign in to the first account (the one requesting the code) and leave that tab open at the verification prompt.
  3. Open a new privacy window and sign in to the alternate email account to read the code.
  4. Copy the code and enter it back in the first window.

Details: see I'm not getting my Microsoft account verification code in the verification-code article.

3. If the password “stopped working” for the long‑time account If the same password used “since being a kid” no longer works but the username is correct:

• Use the Recover your account flow to reset the password for that address:
  1. Go to the password reset page via Recover your account.
  2. Enter the email/phone/Skype.
  3. Choose where to receive a security code.
  4. Enter the code and set a new password.

If the username or password still fails or shows “We couldn't find an account with that username,” follow the guidance in My username and password have stopped working and, if needed, use Contact support from that page.

4. If the account is locked or security checks block sign-in If there is any sign that the account is locked or security checks are blocking sign-in (for example, no Next button, or repeated verification failures):

• Follow the instructions in Microsoft account has been locked.
• Use the aka.ms/... link shown on the lock screen to submit the unlock form.
• Wait for the Microsoft Online Safety team to review and respond by email.

5. If verification codes still do not arrive If codes are not being delivered at all:

• Follow the steps in Troubleshoot Microsoft verification code issues:
  • Try a different browser or InPrivate mode.
  • Try a different network (for example, mobile data instead of home Wi‑Fi).
  • If using SMS, try a different phone number that can receive texts (friend/colleague). The number is only used for the temporary code.

6. After the Microsoft account is fixed Once the correct Microsoft/Outlook account can:

• Sign in reliably,
• Receive verification codes to a working email/phone,

then return to the Activision/Call of Duty account site and:

• Sign out of all accounts in the browser.
• Sign in first with the correct Xbox/Microsoft account.
• Then link Steam from within that same Activision account session.

If Activision still reports that the Xbox account is linked to a different Activision profile even after Microsoft sign-in is fixed, the remaining unlink/relink step must be handled through Activision/Call of Duty support, because that linking is on their side, not in the Microsoft account.

References:

• I can't sign in to my Microsoft account
• Troubleshoot Microsoft verification code issues
• My username and password have stopped working
• Microsoft account has been locked