Managing personal Outlook.com account settings, security, and privacy
Follow these steps to regain access and know where to send information:
- Use the official Sign-in Helper (starting point for hacked accounts)
- Go to the Sign-in Helper for hacked or compromised Microsoft accounts: use the Start button in the “How to recover a hacked or compromised Microsoft account” article.
- Enter the Outlook/Microsoft account email or phone number that was hacked.
- The tool will either show self-help options or give the option to contact an agent. This is the correct channel instead of sending information by email.
- Run through the hacked-account recovery steps
The official guidance for compromised accounts is:
- Step 1: Scan the PC for malware/viruses before changing any passwords. If using Windows 8.1 or Windows 10/11, turn on and run Windows Defender, then do a full scan.
- Step 2: After the scan, try to sign in and change the password. If sign-in is not possible, use the password reset option from the same article.
- Step 3: Once access is restored, review account settings (connected accounts, forwarding, automatic replies) and remove anything not recognized.
- If security info was changed and codes go to the attacker
- If the attacker added their own alternate email and security info was replaced, the account may be in a “security info change pending” state. When that message appears, use the built-in links on that page:
- Cancel this request if the change was initiated and the old security proofs are still available.
- Let us know if the change was not made by the account owner; this routes through the unauthorized-change flow.
- If access to “Manage how you sign in” is possible, remove any aliases (email addresses) that are not recognized.
- If the attacker added their own alternate email and security info was replaced, the account may be in a “security info change pending” state. When that message appears, use the built-in links on that page:
- Use the Microsoft account recovery form (where to submit information)
- If normal reset flows fail, submit the official account recovery form (linked from the hacked-account article and from “Help with the Microsoft account recovery form”).
- Before filling it out:
- Ensure there is a working contact email (can be a different Outlook.com or a Gmail address). This is where Microsoft will send updates about the request.
- The form itself is the place to enter all requested information (old passwords, transaction details, etc.); do not send this information by direct email to Microsoft, as support agents cannot accept or process recovery details outside the official form and tools.
- Microsoft reviews the form and responds to the contact email, typically within 24 hours.
- If recovery keeps failing
- If the recovery form is repeatedly denied and the attacker has replaced all security info, moderators indicate there is no other working method to recover the account; Microsoft Support cannot override the automated decision.
For the Gmail address provided, use it only as the contact email inside the official recovery form or when prompted in the Sign-in Helper or Support contact flow, not by sending a free-form email.
References:
- How to recover a hacked or compromised Microsoft account
- Hello , welcome to Account help & learning
- Help with the Microsoft account recovery form
- My account got hacked. - Microsoft Q&A
- How do I send an email to Microsoft about my account being hacked and taken over by <removed> ? - Microsoft Q&A
- Need help with hacked microsoft account - Microsoft Q&A
- My account got hacked - Microsoft Q&A
- my microsoft account has been compromised - Microsoft Q&A