Change your email address directly in Outlook settings
You can change the email address associated with your Outlook account without creating a new account. The process differs slightly depending on whether you use Outlook on the web, Outlook desktop, or Outlook on your phone, but all routes lead to the same account settings.
The fastest method is through Outlook on the web. Sign in at outlook.com, select your profile picture in the top right corner, then choose View account. From there, go to Security & privacy and look for the section labeled Email addresses or How you sign in. You will see your current email listed. Select Add email or Edit depending on what Outlook shows you.
If you are using Outlook desktop (the Windows or Mac process), the process is different. Open Outlook, go to File in the top menu, then Account Settings, then Account Settings again. Find your account in the list, select it, and choose Change. You can then update the email address associated with that account.
Key Takeaways
- You can add a new email address to your Outlook account without losing your existing inbox, contacts, or calendar.
- Outlook on the web, Outlook desktop, and Outlook mobile all let you change your email, but the menu paths are different for each.
- If you want to use a completely different email provider instead of Outlook, you will need to set up forwarding or export your data before switching.
- After you change your email address, you will sign in with the new address on all devices, though this can take a few minutes to sync across Outlook.
Add a secondary email address instead of replacing your primary one
Outlook lets you keep your current email address and add a new one at the same time. This is useful if you want to transition slowly or keep both addresses active. When you add a secondary address, you can choose which one appears as your "from" address when you send mail.
In Outlook on the web, go to View account > Security & privacy > Email addresses. Select Add email address and enter the new address you want to use. Outlook will send a confirmation link to that address. Click the link to verify it, and the new address becomes active when ready.
Once both addresses are confirmed, you can set which one is your primary address (the one that appears in the "from" field by default). You can also switch between them when composing a new message by clicking the dropdown next to your name in the compose window.
Make your new email address the primary one
If you have added a secondary address and want it to become your main address, you need to set it as primary. In Outlook on the web, return to View account > Security & privacy > Email addresses. Find the address you want to make primary and select Make primary.
This changes which address appears as your "from" address in new messages and which one shows up on your profile. Your old address does not disappear — it stays as a secondary address unless you remove it. You can still receive mail at both addresses and switch between them when sending.
Remove an old email address after switching
Once you have set up a new primary address and confirmed that mail is arriving correctly, you can delete the old one. In Outlook on the web, go to View account > Security & privacy > Email addresses. Find the address you no longer want and select Remove or the trash icon next to it.
Before you remove an old address, make sure you have notified your contacts of the change. You may also want to set up forwarding on that address if it is hosted elsewhere, so any mail sent to the old address still reaches you. Once you delete it from Outlook, you will no longer receive messages sent to that address.
Update your email address on Outlook mobile
On the Outlook mobile app for iPhone or Android, you cannot change your email address directly within the app. Instead, you must make the change through Outlook on the web or the desktop version, and the change will sync to your phone within a few minutes.
After you change your email on the web or desktop, open the Outlook app on your phone and pull down to refresh. If the app does not show the new address, try signing out and signing back in with your new email address. The mobile app will then display your updated account information.
Switch to a different email provider entirely
If you want to stop using Outlook altogether and move to Gmail, Yahoo, or another provider, you will need to export your data first. Outlook stores your emails, contacts, and calendar, and you will lose access to them if you straightforward stop using the account.
In Outlook on the web, go to Settings (the gear icon) > View all Outlook settings > Mail > Forwarding. You can set up forwarding to send all incoming mail to your new email address. For contacts and calendar, go to Settings > Mail > Export data to read your information as a file you can import into your new provider.
After you have exported your data and set up forwarding, you can stop using Outlook. Keep in mind that forwarding only works for new mail arriving after you set it up — it does not move your existing inbox to the new address.
Troubleshoot if your new email address is not working
If you changed your email address but cannot sign in with the new one, wait 15 to 30 minutes for the change to sync across Microsoft's servers. Try signing out completely, closing Outlook, and signing back in with your new address.
If you added a secondary address and did not receive the confirmation email, check your spam or junk folder. The confirmation link expires after a few days, so if you cannot find it, go back to Email addresses and select Resend verification email. If you are still having trouble, you may need to verify your identity by providing a phone number or recovery email that Microsoft has on file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose my emails and contacts if I change my email address?
No. Your inbox, contacts, calendar, and all other data stay with your Outlook account. Changing your email address only changes the address you use to sign in and the address that appears when you send mail — everything else remains the same.
Can I use an email address from a different provider as my Outlook account email?
No. Your Outlook account email must be an @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, or @live.com address. If you want to use a Gmail or Yahoo address, you would need to create a new account with that provider instead.
What happens to mail sent to my old email address after I change it?
Mail sent to your old address will not reach your Outlook inbox. If you removed the old address entirely, those messages will bounce back to the sender. If you kept it as a secondary address, you can still receive mail there and switch between addresses when sending.
How long does it take for my new email address to work everywhere?
The change takes effect when ready in Outlook on the web. On the desktop app and mobile app, it can take 15 minutes to an hour to sync. If you use Outlook with other services or devices, those may take longer to recognize the new address.
Can I change my email address back to the old one if I change my mind?
Yes. If you kept your old address as a secondary address, you can go back to Email addresses and select Make primary next to the old one. If you deleted it completely, you can add it back as a new secondary address, though you will need to verify it again.