Option to "make primary" alias not visible in the edit account info page

FuzzyBunny-2449 5

I need to change the primary address (or alias, whatever you want to call it) for my microsoft account to another address. I already added the new address that I want to make the primary, but the option to actually do that isn't visible.

the current primary email is a verizon and the one I need to make primary is gmail. neither have ever been associated with another microsoft account before. I tried on two other browsers and both didn't work either. The new address I just added works to sign in fine, I tried that too so that's not the problem.

Here's what it looks like:

Screenshot 2026-08-08 001355

I changed the primary before a couple of months ago with a different microsoft account and it worked fine (the option was there) but I checked that microsoft account as well today to see if something was different between the two, and that second account doesn't have the option available either! (even though it did a few months back)

Ahmed Ali Khan Lodhi 0 Reputation points

2026-08-09T08:35:35.8266667+00:00
if the Gmail alias is already added and works for signing in, the issue is probably not the alias itself.

Microsoft has changed the account-management UI over time, and the “Make primary” option can disappear depending on the type/status of the alias or Microsoft’s current account UI.

A few things to check:

Go directly to Your Microsoft account → Your info → Account info / Sign-in preferences, rather than trying to change it from the profile page.

Look under Manage how you sign in and confirm the Gmail address is listed as an alias.

Make sure the Gmail address is verified.

Check whether the Verizon address has any special status. In particular, Microsoft can restrict changing/removing certain aliases depending on how the account was originally created.

Try Microsoft’s account page while signed into the Gmail alias, not the Verizon address.

If “Make primary” is completely absent for multiple aliases, it may be a current Microsoft-side UI/account restriction rather than something wrong with your browser.

One important distinction: adding Gmail as an alias does not automatically make it the account’s primary address. The primary alias is still controlled separately.
Hayley Dodd 0 Reputation points

2026-08-11T06:39:49.95+00:00

For the past week someone has been attempting to hack into my account upwards of 10 times a day. Have followed all the steps to make my account more secure, last step was creating a new alias and making it the primary one. Encountered the same issue as OP, jumped on live chat, and this was the response from MS.

IMO unacceptable for MS to direct their customers to part ways with their original accounts altogether and create new ones.

7 answers

Vikki-T 10,285 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-08-08T09:43:38.4166667+00:00

Hi FuzzyBunny,

Thank you for coming back and sharing the workaround you found. I understand why the missing Make primary option was confusing, especially since the newly added Gmail address was already verified and could be used to sign in.

Email addresses associated with the same Microsoft account are called aliases. They share the same password, contacts, storage, subscriptions and account settings. The primary alias is the address displayed on Microsoft devices, such as a Windows PC or Xbox. For more information, please visit: Which account do you want to use?

Microsoft also provides general guidance for adding, removing, or updating addresses associated with an account here: Change the email address for your Microsoft account

Your workaround may be useful when both addresses are external, non-Microsoft addresses. However, anyone trying it should be especially careful before removing an alias. Please note that an alias using a Microsoft domain, such as @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, @live.com or @msn.com, is permanently deleted when removed from the account and cannot be associated with a Microsoft account again. It is also a good idea to confirm that the replacement address is verified and that the account has up-to-date recovery information before making changes.

More information about aliases and the removal warning is available here: Add or remove an email alias in Outlook.com

I’m glad you found a method that worked for your Verizon and Gmail addresses and thank you for documenting it for others who may encounter the same interface. If Change does not work for another user or if the address involved uses a Microsoft-owned domain, contacting Microsoft Support would be safer than removing the alias as a test. Thank you so much for your understanding.

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.
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FuzzyBunny-2449 5 Reputation points

2026-08-08T06:51:24.0833333+00:00

Hi, it's me answering my own question here because I figured it out in case anyone has the same issue: microsoft changed how this works. so, to my knowledge, you can't make an already existing alias the primary one anymore (don't take my word on this, do your own research I am not affiliated with microsoft and I'm not 100% sure if this is correct)

HOWEVER, if ALL the email addresses in question are NOT mircosoft domain (outlook, hotmail, and maybe more idk look it up) you can just remove the address that isn't primary so it's no longer associated with a mocrosoft account, click the "change" button next to the primary address (reference my screenshot) and add the new address. the old one will be removed from the account (I think you should be able to add it back again, but I haven't tried, so I am not sure)

NOTE: this only works if the email addresses are NOT any microsoft domains (outlook, hotmail and maybe more idk look it up) if they are one of those domains, it will just delete them entirely

I wish microsoft live support chat on no one,

fare thee well
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Option to "make primary" alias not visible in the edit account info page

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