Microsoft 365 features that help users manage their subscriptions, account settings, and billing information.
Follow these steps to get back into the original Microsoft account that has the purchased apps:
- Use the Sign-in Helper
- Go to the Sign-in Helper tool: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2214157
- Enter the email or phone number of the original Microsoft account (the one with the purchases).
- The tool will detect common problems and guide through the right recovery path.
- If the account refuses the password or does not ask for it
- If the username and password have stopped working, use Recover your account: https://account.live.com/password/reset
- Enter the email/phone/Skype name of the original account.
- Choose where to receive a security code, enter the code, then set a new password.
- Tips from Microsoft:
- Make sure the domain is correct (for example,
outlook.comvsoutlook.co.uk). - Check for spelling differences in the name part (for example,
rachelvsrachael). - If one alias is not recognized, try another email or phone number that was ever added to that account.
- Make sure the domain is correct (for example,
- If the system says the account does not exist or username is not recognized
- If the message is like “We couldn’t find an account with that username” or “account doesn’t exist”, use the Sign-in Helper again: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2214157
- If the username used to work but is not recognized now, see: My username and password have stopped working and follow the recovery steps there.
- If verification codes are the problem
- If the issue is that verification codes are requested to methods that are no longer available, follow the guidance in Help with the Microsoft account recovery form: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2214511
- Fill the recovery form with as much accurate information as possible about the original account (old passwords, services used, approximate creation date, etc.).
- After regaining access
- Sign in to Windows and Microsoft Store with the original Microsoft account (the one with the purchases), not the new account.
- The purchased apps are tied to that original account and will only appear when signed in with it.
If none of these steps work and the recovery form cannot validate ownership, support and forums cannot override the automated account recovery system; in that case the original account cannot be restored and the purchases linked to it cannot be moved to the new account.
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