Why you might need to change your Microsoft email
You can change the email address linked to your Microsoft account without losing access to anything — your files, subscriptions, or sign-in history stay with the account itself. People usually do this when they switch email providers, want to use a work email instead of a personal one, or need to remove an old email address they no longer check.
The process is straightforward, but there are two different things you might want to do, and they work differently. You can change the email you use to sign in, or you can add a recovery email address that Microsoft uses to help you regain access if you get locked out. Most people need to do both.
Key Takeaways
- Your sign-in email and your recovery email are separate — changing one does not automatically change the other.
- You change your sign-in email from the Microsoft account security page, and the change takes effect when ready once you confirm the new address.
- A recovery email is a backup address Microsoft contacts if you lose access to your main account, and you should set one up even if you do not plan to change your sign-in email.
- After you change your sign-in email, you will need to use the new address the next time you sign in to any Microsoft service.
- If you use Outlook.com or Hotmail, changing your account email is different from creating a new email alias, and you should know which one you need before you start.
How to change the email you sign in with
Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with your current email and password. Click Your info in the left menu, then look for the section that shows your email address — it will say something like "Email addresses" or "Sign-in email".
Click Change email or the pencil icon next to your email. Microsoft will ask you to enter a new email address. Type the address you want to use instead. This can be any email address you own and can access right now — it does not have to be a Microsoft email.
Microsoft will send a confirmation code to the new email address. Check that inbox (including spam folders) for a message from Microsoft, and enter the code on the screen. Once you confirm the code, your sign-in email changes when ready. The next time you sign in to Outlook, OneDrive, Xbox, or any other Microsoft service, use your new email address instead of the old one.
Setting up a recovery email so you do not get locked out
A recovery email is a second email address Microsoft keeps on file. If you forget your password, get hacked, or lose access to your main account email, Microsoft sends a recovery code to this backup address instead. You should set one up even if you are not changing your sign-in email right now.
From the same Your info page, look for Recovery email or Backup email. Click Add recovery email or the edit button. Enter an email address you have access to — this should be different from your sign-in email and ideally from a different provider (for example, if your sign-in email is Gmail, use Yahoo or Outlook for recovery).
Microsoft sends a confirmation code to that recovery email. Check your inbox and enter the code to confirm. Once confirmed, Microsoft will use this address if you ever need to prove you own the account.
The difference between changing your email and creating an alias
If your main email is an Outlook.com or Hotmail address, Microsoft also lets you create email aliases — extra addresses that all deliver to the same inbox. This is not the same as changing your sign-in email. An alias is useful if you want to receive mail at a new address without changing how you sign in.
To create an alias instead of changing your sign-in email, go to account.microsoft.com, click Your info, find Manage your email aliases, and click Add alias. Enter the new address. You can then receive mail at both addresses, but you still sign in with your original email.
If you want to actually sign in with the new address instead of just receiving mail there, you need to change your sign-in email (the process described above), not create an alias.
What happens to your files and subscriptions
Changing your sign-in email does not move or delete anything. Your OneDrive files, Outlook inbox, Microsoft 365 subscription, Xbox account, and any other services linked to your Microsoft account all stay exactly where they are. The account itself does not change — only the email address you use to access it.
If you share files with others or have automatic email forwarding set up, those continue to work. If someone has your old email address saved in their contacts or has shared a file with you using that address, they can still reach you — but if they try to sign in to your account using your old email, it will not work.
Updating your email on devices you already signed in to
Computers, phones, and tablets that you have already signed into your Microsoft account will usually keep working without any action from you. Windows 10 and Windows 11 machines, for example, stay signed in even after you change your email.
However, if a device asks you to sign in again (because you restarted it, updated it, or it has been a long time), you will need to use your new email address. Some apps like Outlook on your phone may also ask you to re-enter your credentials — use the new email when that happens.
If you want to be thorough, you can go to account.microsoft.com, click Your info, then Manage your devices to see which devices are signed in. You do not need to do anything here unless you want to sign out of a device remotely.
If you cannot access the email address you want to use
Microsoft requires you to confirm that you own the new email address before the change takes effect. If you cannot access the inbox for the new address — because it is an old account you no longer use, or because you set it up incorrectly — the change will not go through.
If this happens, try again with a different email address that you can actually access right now. You can always change it again later. If you are locked out of your account entirely and cannot sign in to make the change, go to account.live.com/password/reset and use your recovery email or phone number to regain access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my email if I forgot my password?
No — you need to sign in to your account to change your email. If you forgot your password, go to account.live.com/password/reset, use your recovery email or phone number to verify who you are, and reset your password first. Then sign in and change your email.
What if I want to change back to my old email later?
You can change your sign-in email as many times as you want. Just go back to account.microsoft.com, click Your info, and change it again. Microsoft will send a confirmation code to the old email address to make sure you own it.
Do I need to change my password when I change my email?
No. Your password stays the same. You just use your new email address to sign in instead of your old one. If you want to change your password too, you can do that separately from the Security tab on your account page.
Will my Microsoft 365 subscription still work after I change my email?
Yes. Your subscription is tied to your account, not to your email address. Office, OneDrive storage, and any other services you pay for will continue to work. You just sign in with your new email instead.
Can I use someone else's email address as my sign-in email?
No. Microsoft requires you to confirm ownership of the new email by entering a code sent to that address. You can only use an email address that you actually control and can access.