How to change outdated email address on account?

Marcia MacRae 0 Reputation points
2026-08-08T22:42:29.18+00:00

My account is tied to an out of date email to which I have no more access. How may I get into that account? I'm on MacOS

Microsoft 365 and Office | Subscription, account, billing | Other | MacOS
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  1. Stefan Blom 351.5K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2026-08-10T13:40:26.34+00:00

    Have you tried signing in to https://account.microsoft.com/services with your e-mail address? It may still be an active alias for the Microsoft account, even if you can't use the address to send actual e-mails.

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  2. Thomas4-N 21,545 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-08-09T14:20:45.2233333+00:00

    Hello Marcia MacRae,

    It sounds like your Microsoft account is still associated with an email address you no longer use. However, from your post, I cannot tell whether you can still sign in with that old address, or whether you are locked out because Microsoft sends the verification code there.

    If you can still sign in, the old address can remain as the username while you add your current email as a new alias, verify it, and make it primary. This keeps the same account, subscription, and files.

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accounts-billing/manage/change-the-email-address-or-phone-number-for-your-microsoft-account

    If you cannot sign in or complete verification, you will need to use Microsoft’s Sign-in Helper or account recovery form. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accounts-billing/manage/help-with-the-microsoft-account-recovery-form

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  3. AI answer

    2026-08-08T22:42:49.01+00:00

    If the outdated email is the sign-in alias for a Microsoft account, access usually has to be recovered first, then the sign-in email can be changed.

    1. Try to sign in at the Microsoft account page.
    2. If verification is sent only to the old email, choose I don’t have any of these or Show more verification methods if that option appears.
    3. Add a new security method that is accessible, such as a current email address or phone number.
    4. If the account recovery flow starts, complete it and wait for the security update to finish. A 30-day protection period can apply before changes that require verification are allowed.
    5. After access is restored, go to Your info or Manage how you sign in to Microsoft.
    6. Add the current email address as an alias, verify it, and select Make primary.
    7. After the new alias is primary, the old alias can be removed if needed.

    Important details:

    • Microsoft account email addresses are aliases. They share the same account, password, subscriptions, and settings.
    • If identity verification cannot be completed with the old email, a phone number can be added during verification in some cases.
    • If the old alias is from a Microsoft domain such as @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, @live.com, or @msn.com, removing it is permanent and that alias cannot be added to a Microsoft account again.
    • macOS does not change this process because the account recovery and alias management are done through the Microsoft account website.

    If the issue is only that the wrong contact email is used for Azure billing notifications, that can be updated separately in Azure and does not change the sign-in email.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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