Find solutions to common problems or get help from a support agent. Once you're able to get back into your account, review How to help keep your Microsoft account safe Microsoft Outlook troubleshooting and secure. Here you'll find guidance for how to secure your account going forward, make it easier to reset a password, and provide additional methods you can use to verify your account. You can use any active email account, even one belonging to a friend or relative.

After you submit the form

We'll use the same working email to send you instructions for how to sign back into your account. If you see the message "The Microsoft account you've entered does not exist.", check the spelling of your entry carefully. If it's correct, please read My username and password have stopped working. If you used the account with any of the products and services below, expand a section to see more information on questions that can be asked. You'll be asked to provide the hardware ID of a console that you've used frequently. If you recently bought a new one, try to get the hardware ID from your old console.

How to complete out the Microsoft account recovery form

We'll send the results of your recovery request to the working email address you provided at the beginning of the form within 24 hours. If you have a good antivirus program installed, make sure it's up to date and then do a full scan of your system. If you don't have an antivirus app installed on your PC, Microsoft offers some solutions if you're running Windows 8.1 or Windows 10/11. If your account has been hacked, use our sign-in helper tool below to help guide you to the right solutions. If your Microsoft account recovery request wasn't granted, you can keep trying as many times as you want, up to two times per day.

• If we don't detect any problem, we'll guide you through how you can help yourself.
• If you can't sign into your Microsoft account, most issues can be identified by our sign-in helper tool.
• To check and change your account settings, go to connected accounts, forwarding, and automatic replies.
• Collect as much information as you can about any Microsoft services you may have used with this account.
• If you recently bought a new one, try to get the hardware ID from your old console.
• Because someone else had access to your account, we've reset some of your account settings.
• If you use Skype to call mobile or landline phones, you'll also be asked for some of those along with details about a recent Skype purchase.

Help with the Microsoft account recovery form

You'll be asked for the SkypeID or names of contacts on their account. If you use Skype to call mobile or landline phones, you'll also be asked for some of those along with details about a recent Skype purchase. You'll be asked questions that are specific to the account you're trying to recover.

Frequently asked questions

The tool will ask you to enter the email address or mobile phone number you're trying to sign in with and check the details you provide. If we detect a problem with your account, we'll tell you what you need to do to solve the problem. If we don't detect any problem, we'll guide you through how you can help yourself. Because someone else had access to your account, we've reset some of your account settings. To check and change your account settings, go to connected accounts, forwarding, and automatic replies.