Microsoft account help
Overview and sign in help
- Microsoft account overview
- Can't sign in
Password reset and recovery
- Change known password
- Reset forgotten password
- Can't recover an account
Forgot username
- Username lookup
- Check products and services
- Check if email is an account
- Username has stopped working
Security and verification codes
- Keep your account secure
- Security info and codes
- Troubleshoot verification codes
- Security info pending
- 2-step verification
- Go passwordless
- App passwords
- Account security tools
Locked or compromised accounts
- Account is locked
- Recover a hacked account
- Recent activity page
- Unusual sign in activity
- Emails from Microsoft
- Texts from Microsoft
- Report technical support scams
Linked accounts
- Change the email address or phone number
- Add an email address or phone number
- Combining Microsoft accounts
- Link your Google account
What is a Microsoft account?
- What is a Microsoft account
- How to sign in to a Microsoft account
- Create a new Microsoft account
Update your profile
- Change your name or address
- Change your Windows user account name
- Change your birthdate
- Change your picture
Devices
- Register or remove devices
- Hardware service and repair
Close your account
- Close an account
- Reopen your Microsoft account
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These tips can help keep your Microsoft account safe, make it easier to recover if it's compromised, and strengthen it against attacks.
Notes:If you’re having password or security code issues, try these links:
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I forgot my password.
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I need to change my password.
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I think my account’s been compromised.
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Troubleshooting verification code issues.
It's especially important to have a strong password if you use a Microsoft email address (like Outlook.com or Hotmail). This is because many services now use your email address to check your identity. If someone gets access to your Microsoft account, they may be able to use your email to reset the passwords for your other accounts, like banking and online shopping.
You can change your password on the Security basics page at any time.
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Do make the new password significantly different from previous passwords. | Don't use the same password for different accounts. |
| Do use a sentence or phrase converted into a string of initials, numbers, and symbols. | Don't use a single word for your password like "password," "monkey," or "sunshine." |
| Do make your password hard to guess even if someone knows a lot about you (avoid names and birthdays of your family or your favorite band). | Don't use common passwords like "password," "iloveyou," or "12345678." |
The Microsoft Authenticator phone app not only adds another security layer to your Microsoft account, but it also lets you sign in to your account from your phone without a password.
Download the phone app and then learn how to use it in the How to use the Microsoft Authenticator appvideos and article.
Add security info to your account to make it easier to recover your account if it’s hacked. Because this info can help keep your account safe, it's important to keepit up to date. Add or update your security info on the Security basicspage. Or, learn moreabout and get steps to help protect your account today.
Most operating systems have free software updates to enhance security and performance. Because updates help keep your mobile and computer safer, we strongly recommend that you set up your device to get these updates automatically. You can set up your PC to get the latest updates automatically forWindows.
Microsoft will never ask for your password in email, so never reply to any email asking for any personal information, even if it claims to be from Outlook.com or Microsoft.
Read about Outlook security for more information onemail safety.
If you receive an email notifying you of unusual activity, you can see when and where your account has been accessed—including successful sign-ins and security challenges—on the Recent activity page. Microsoft learns how you usually sign in to your account and flags events that are suspicious.
If you lose or give away a device that you use to sign in to your Microsoft account, or if you know that someone else has access to your devices for whatever reason, be proactive and remove the trusted status from your devices.
To remove trusted devices, go to the Security basicspage, select more security options, scroll down to Trusted Devices, and then selectRemove all the trusted devices associated with my account.
For more information, see how to add a trusted device to your Microsoft account.
See also
I think my account’s been compromised.
Need more help?
Contact Support
For technical support, go toContact Microsoft Support, enter your problem and selectGet Help. If you still need help, selectContact Supportto be routed to the best support option.
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