What changing your username actually does

Your Microsoft account username is the email address you use to sign in — the one you type into the login box on outlook.com, OneDrive, Xbox, or Windows. Changing it means you'll sign in with a different email address going forward. The change takes effect when ready across all Microsoft services you use.

This is different from changing your display name, which is what appears next to your messages in Outlook or your profile in Teams. You can change your display name without changing your username, and the two changes happen in different places in your account settings.

Microsoft lets you change your username once every 30 days. If you change it and then want to change it back, you'll need to wait a month. The old email address becomes available for someone else to use after a short period, so if you're switching to a new email, make sure you have access to the new one before you start.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Microsoft username is the email address you sign in with, and you change it in the Security & Privacy section of your account settings, not in your profile.
  • You can change your username once every 30 days, and the change takes effect when ready across Outlook, OneDrive, Xbox, and Windows.
  • Before you change your username, make sure you can receive email at the new address, because Microsoft will send a confirmation code there.
  • If you forget your new username after changing it, you can still sign in with your old email address for a short time while the system updates.

Steps to change your username in your account settings

Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with your current username and password. Once you're logged in, look for "Security & Privacy" in the left menu and click it. Then click "Your info" at the top of the page.

On the Your Info page, you'll see your current email address listed under "Account aliases." Click "Manage how you sign in to Microsoft" — this is the link that takes you to the actual username change tool, not the display name settings. Click "Add email" to add a new email address as your username, then enter the new email you want to use.

Microsoft will send a confirmation code to that new email address. Check your inbox (and spam folder) for the code, then return to the browser window and enter it. Once you confirm the code, the new email becomes your primary username. The old one stays linked to your account as a backup for a few days, but you'll sign in with the new email from that point on.

What to do if you don't have access to the new email yet

If you're switching to a new email address but haven't fully set it up yet, wait until you can receive email there before you change your username. The confirmation code is the critical step — without it, you can't complete the change. If you start the process and realize you can't access the new email, close the browser window and try again later.

If you've already changed your username but can't access the new email address, contact Microsoft Support through account.microsoft.com/support. They can help you regain access or revert the change if it was recent. This is one of the few situations where you'll need to reach out to them directly, because you won't be able to sign in with either email address.

Signing in after you change your username

After the change is complete, use your new email address every time you sign in to any Microsoft service. This includes Outlook.com, OneDrive, Xbox, Windows 10 or 11, Microsoft 365, and any other service tied to your account. The old email address will stop working as a sign-in method after a few days.

If you're signed into Windows on your computer with your old Microsoft username, you may see a prompt to update your sign-in information the next time you restart. Follow the prompts to sign in with your new username. If you don't update it, you can still use your computer, but some cloud features like OneDrive sync may not work properly until you do.

The difference between username and display name

Your display name is what other people see when you send them an email or message — it might be "Sarah Johnson" or "Sarah J." Your username is what you type to sign in. You can change your display name without changing your username, and it won't affect how you sign in to anything.

To change your display name instead, go to account.microsoft.com, click "Your info," and look for "Manage your name." You can change this as often as you want with no waiting period. The change shows up in Outlook, Teams, and other Microsoft services within a few minutes.

What happens to your old email address

When you change your username, your old email address stays linked to your account for about 30 days as a recovery option. During that time, you can still use it to sign in if you need to, though Microsoft will prompt you to use your new username instead. After 30 days, the old email is removed from your account entirely.

Once it's removed, the old email address becomes available for someone else to register with Microsoft. If you want to keep using that email for other services (Gmail, banking, social media), make sure you update your recovery email and phone number in your account settings before the 30 days are up. That way, if you ever need to recover your account, Microsoft won't try to send a code to an email you no longer control.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username more than once?

Yes, but you have to wait 30 days between changes. If you change your username and then realize you made a mistake, you'll need to wait a month before you can change it again. Plan your change carefully so you don't get stuck with a username you don't want for a month.

What if I change my username and then forget what it is?

You can still sign in with your old email address for a few days after the change. Once you're signed in, go back to account.microsoft.com and check Your Info to see your current username. If more than 30 days have passed and you've lost access to both emails, contact Microsoft Support.

Does changing my username affect my Microsoft 365 subscription or files?

No. Your files in OneDrive, your Outlook inbox, your Microsoft 365 subscription, and everything else stays exactly where it is. Only the email address you use to sign in changes. All your data and services follow you to the new username automatically.

Can I use a non-Microsoft email address as my username?

Yes. You can change your username to any email address you own and can receive mail at — Gmail, Yahoo, your work email, or any other provider. Microsoft doesn't require you to use an Outlook.com or Hotmail address. Just make sure you have access to that email before you start the change process.

What if my new email address is already linked to another Microsoft account?

You can't use the same email address as a username for two different Microsoft accounts. If the email is already in use, you'll get an error when you try to confirm it. You'll need to either use a different email address or contact Microsoft Support if you believe the other account is yours.