my email address is linked to a closed Microsoft account

The Outlook app is still configured with the old Microsoft account profile and is not automatically following the changes made to aliases or closed accounts. The goal is to remove that old account profile from Outlook and then sign back in only with the active personal and work accounts.

Based on the context, the key points are:

1. Microsoft accounts cannot be merged
   • A personal Microsoft account and a work/school (Microsoft 365) account cannot be merged into one. They must be used side by side.
   • This means the old account, the family account, and the work account are all separate, even if they share email addresses or phone numbers.
2. Removing or changing aliases has permanent effects
   • When an email address is removed as an alias from a Microsoft account, it can be permanently deleted if it is from a Microsoft domain (like @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, etc.), and cannot be reattached to any Microsoft account again.
   • For non-Microsoft domains (like @gmail.com), removing the alias usually makes that email address available to be added as an alias on another Microsoft account.
   • If the primary alias was changed or removed incorrectly, it can affect how Outlook signs in.
3. How to fix Outlook showing the wrong/old account Use this sequence:
   1. Clean up aliases on the correct personal Microsoft account
   • Go to Manage how you sign in to your account: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?linkid=842796
   • Sign in with the personal Microsoft account that should be active (the one used with the family subscription, if that is the one to keep).
   • Under account aliases:
     • Ensure the preferred email address (for example, the current primary Gmail or Outlook address) is set as Make primary.
     • If there is an alias that should no longer be used (for example, an old Gmail that is causing confusion), select Remove next to that alias.
   • Note the warnings:
     • If removing an alias from a Microsoft domain (like @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, etc.), it is permanently deleted and cannot be used again on any Microsoft account.
     • If removing a non-Microsoft address (like @gmail.com), it usually becomes available to be added as an alias to another Microsoft account.
   2. Remove the old account profile from Outlook (Windows app)
   • In the Outlook desktop app, remove the profile or account that corresponds to the closed/old Microsoft account. This step is done in Outlook’s account settings (the exact UI steps are not in the context, but the principle is to remove the old account so Outlook stops trying to use it).
   • After removal, Outlook will no longer pull email or settings from that old account.
   3. Add only the active accounts back into Outlook
   • Add the personal account that has the correct primary alias (from step 1) and the work account into Outlook.
   • Because accounts cannot be merged, each will sign in separately, but Outlook can show them side by side.
4. Keeping access to OneDrive and photos
   • Closing a Microsoft account that still holds OneDrive files and photos will eventually remove access to that content.
   • To keep access to Drive/photos tied to the old account, that account must remain open, or the content must be moved/downloaded before closing it.
   • The context example shows a user downloading everything from the old profile and then emptying storage so that account can effectively be retired while content is preserved elsewhere.
5. If an alias was removed and mail stopped working
   • If an @msn.com/@outlook.com/@hotmail.com alias was removed from a Microsoft account, it is permanently deleted and cannot be added back. In that case, Outlook will not be able to use that address again, and a different alias must be used as the primary sign-in.

In summary: adjust aliases on the correct Microsoft account via Manage how you sign in, remove the old account from the Outlook app, then re-add only the active personal and work accounts. Do not close any Microsoft account that still holds OneDrive/photos until all needed content is moved, because access and some aliases cannot be recovered once removed or closed.

References:

• Which account do you want to use?
• Add or remove an email alias in Outlook.com
• I realize I have 2 different accounts. How do I combine the 2? - Microsoft Q&A
• Microsoft storage limit exceeded - Microsoft Q&A
• MSN email issues - Microsoft Q&A