FIX A RESTRICTED ACCOUNT

A hacked Outlook.com/Hotmail account can show exactly these symptoms: blocked sending, missing email, suspicious inbox rules, and external forwarding. Since storage is not full and automated recovery has not fixed it, use this recovery path:

1. Run a full malware scan before changing anything else
   • Open Windows Security.
   • Go to Virus and threat protection.
   • Select Scan options > Full scan > Scan now.
   • This should be done before changing the password.
2. Change or reset the Microsoft account password
   • If sign-in still works, change the password.
   • If sign-in does not work reliably, use the password reset flow.
   • Use a strong password.
3. Check Outlook.com account settings that are commonly changed after a hack
   • Review connected accounts.
   • Review forwarding and turn it off if anything unfamiliar is present.
   • Review automatic replies.
   • Also check for suspicious Inbox rules, especially rules that:
     • forward mail to unknown addresses,
     • move mail to Junk Email, Notes, or RSS Subscriptions,
     • delete or hide incoming mail.
4. Use the Sign-in Helper to unblock or recover the account
   • For unusual sign-in activity or a temporarily blocked Outlook.com account, use Sign-in Helper.
   • If entering the security code or changing the password does not unblock the account, use the Microsoft account sign-in recovery path.
5. Contact support through the supported path if self-help still fails
   • Use Contact Microsoft Support and select Get Help.
   • If needed, continue to Contact Support for the best support option.
   • Support agents cannot send password reset links or directly change account details, so the account recovery and sign-in helper flows remain the required path for identity verification.
6. What the symptoms mean in this case
   • Receiving only junk mail and not normal mail after a hack strongly matches either:
     • a temporary sending restriction or block after suspicious activity, or
     • malicious rules/forwarding added to the mailbox.

If normal mail is still not arriving after the password is changed and suspicious rules/forwarding are removed, continue with the Sign-in Helper and Contact Support path because Outlook.com may still be under a security restriction.

References:

• How to recover a hacked or compromised Microsoft account
• Unblock my Outlook.com account
• Respond to a compromised cloud email account
• Microsoft account has been locked