Change your Microsoft account email through the account settings page
To change the email address linked to your Microsoft account, sign in at account.microsoft.com, go to the "Your info" section, and select "Manage your Microsoft account email." You can add a new email address and set it as your primary, or remove an old one. The process takes a few minutes and does not require you to create a new account.
Microsoft lets you keep multiple email addresses on one account — a primary address (the one you use to sign in) and up to four alias addresses. You can switch which one is primary without losing access to anything tied to your account. If you want to stop using an email entirely, you can remove it once you have set a different address as primary.
The change takes effect immediately for signing in and receiving notifications. Any services or apps connected to your Microsoft account will continue to work without interruption.
Key Takeaways
- You sign in at account.microsoft.com, not through Outlook or another Microsoft service, to change your account email.
- You can add a new email as an alias and make it primary, or remove an old email once another address is set as primary.
- The change is instant — you can sign in with your new email address right away.
- If you forget your password, you will need access to a recovery email or phone number you set up beforehand, so keep those current too.
- Changing your account email does not affect OneDrive, Outlook, or other Microsoft services — they stay connected to your account.
Step-by-step: adding a new email address
Start by going to account.microsoft.com in your web browser and signing in with your current email and password. Once you are signed in, look for "Your info" in the left menu and click it.
On the Your info page, find the section labeled "Manage your Microsoft account email" or "Email addresses." Click the button to add an email. Enter the new email address you want to use and click "Add email." Microsoft will send a confirmation link to that new address — check your inbox (and spam folder) and click the link to confirm you own it.
After you confirm the new email, it appears in your list of addresses. If you want this new email to be the one you sign in with, click "Make primary" next to it. Your old email will move to the alias list. You can now sign in using either address, but the new one is your primary contact for Microsoft.
Removing an old email address
You can only remove an email address if you have at least one other address on your account. Before you delete an old email, make sure you have set a new primary address and confirmed it works.
Go back to the email addresses section on account.microsoft.com. Find the old email you want to remove and click "Remove" next to it. Microsoft will ask you to confirm — once you do, that email is no longer tied to your account. You will not be able to sign in with it anymore.
If you are removing an email because that account has been hacked or compromised, also change your Microsoft account password right away. Go to "Security" in the left menu, select "Change password," and create a strong new one.
What to do if you no longer have access to your old email
If your old email address no longer works (the account was deleted, you lost access to it, or it is from an old job), you may not be able to confirm a new address through the normal process. In this case, Microsoft may ask you to verify your identity using a recovery phone number or by answering security questions you set up before.
If you do not have a recovery phone number on file and cannot answer the security questions, contact Microsoft Support through account.microsoft.com. Click "Help" at the top of the page and select "Contact support." Explain that you cannot access your old email and need to add a new one. Support can verify your identity through other means and make the change for you, though this may take a few business days.
Updating recovery information at the same time
While you are in your account settings, take a moment to update your recovery email and phone number. These are separate from your sign-in email — they are what Microsoft uses to help you get back in if you forget your password or your account is compromised.
Go to "Security" in the left menu and look for "Recovery info." Add or update a recovery email address (this should be a different email than your primary account email, ideally one you check regularly) and a phone number where Microsoft can reach you. Save these changes.
Having current recovery information means you will not be locked out of your account if something goes wrong. It is one of the most important things you can do to keep your account secure.
Signing in with your new email after the change
Once you have set a new email as primary, you can sign in to any Microsoft service using that new address. This includes Outlook.com, OneDrive, Xbox, Microsoft 365, and Windows. Your password stays the same — only the email address you type in changes.
If you are signed in to Windows on your computer, you do not need to do anything. Your device will continue to work. If you want to sign in to a new device or app using your Microsoft account, use your new email address and your existing password.
Old aliases (email addresses you are no longer using as primary) will still work for signing in for a while, but Microsoft may phase them out over time. It is best to start using your new primary email right away for all sign-ins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my email without losing my OneDrive files or Outlook messages?
Yes. Changing your account email does not touch your files, messages, or any data. Everything stays in your account and you keep access to it. Your OneDrive, Outlook inbox, and all other services remain connected to your account — the email address is just how you sign in.
What if I want to use my old email again later?
If you removed an old email address, you can add it back as an alias at any time by going to account.microsoft.com and following the same steps to add a new email. You will need to confirm it again, but the process is the same.
Do I have to change my password when I change my email?
No. Your password and email address are separate. You can change one without changing the other. However, if you are changing your email because your account was hacked, you should change your password too. Go to "Security" and select "Change password."
How long does it take for the new email to work everywhere?
The change is instant for signing in and for new notifications. If you use Microsoft services on your phone or computer, you may need to sign out and sign back in with your new email for those apps to update. This usually happens automatically within a few hours.
Can I have two primary emails at once?
No. You can have one primary email and up to four aliases, but only one can be primary at a time. The primary email is the one you use to sign in and the one Microsoft uses to contact you. Aliases are extra addresses tied to the same account.