Need help removing/replacing primary email from account?

Question

Need help removing/replacing primary email from account?

richard bement 0

I am trying to remove a primary email from an account. I added a new email and the email verification seems to put me in a loop that I can't get past. I end up getting an attempted to many times error?

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2 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

To replace a primary email on a Microsoft account, the supported path is:

Go to Manage how you sign in to Microsoft at https://account.live.com/names/manage.
Select Add email and add the new address.
Complete verification for the new address.
Select Make primary for the new alias.
After the new alias is primary, remove the old one if needed.

If the account keeps looping during verification or shows a too many attempts message, complete the add-and-make-primary flow later and avoid repeated retries in the same session.

If the system still will not let the primary alias change after the new alias has been added and verified, use Microsoft support from the account help flow:

If the old primary address is a Microsoft domain alias such as @hotmail.com, @live.com, @outlook.com, or @msn.com, do not remove it unless certain. Removing that kind of alias is permanent and it cannot be associated with a Microsoft account again.

References:

Answer 2

richard bement 0

I am put in a loop with step: Complete verification for the new address. The link in the email keeps bringing back to the same page to verify the new email again?

Jeronimo Fuerte 46,170 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-09-16T22:37:52.1433333+00:00

Sorry to hear that you're having trouble with this situation. Could you please provide a little more information about what you're being asked to verify?

Are you being asked to verify the new email address, or are you being asked to verify your identity?

It would also be helpful if you could share a screenshot of the screen or message you see. Please make sure to cover or remove any personal information, such as your email address, before posting the screenshot.
richard bement 0 Reputation points

2026-09-16T22:48:16.2066667+00:00

I have been trying to remove an old email linked to my account. I added new email. When i click to verify new email address, I receive an email, I am prompted to click a link to verify it, it opens a new window back to the page I was on & am unable to make the new email the primary email . Unable to get past this loop. I end up getting a message that I've attempted too many times & should try again tomorrow.
Jeronimo Fuerte 46,170 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-09-16T22:52:46.83+00:00

Since you are now receiving the message that you have attempted the verification too many times and should try again tomorrow, I recommend that you stop making additional attempts for now and wait until the restriction shown by Microsoft has expired. Repeated attempts can cause additional security checks or temporary restrictions.

If clicking the verification link continues returning you to the same page without verifying the address, try again using the Edge browser and temporarily disable any VPN, proxy, ad blocker, or privacy/content-blocking extension. You can also clear the browser's cache and cookies before trying again.