Stuck in endless log-in loop, like hundreds of other people

Question

Stuck in endless log-in loop, like hundreds of other people

Itsizzi 0

I see that I am not alone with this problem. I am locked out of my Hotmail account for almost 3 weeks now, and unable to get in no matter what I do. I have sent the recovery form several times, waiting 24hours between times. No code is ever sent to my back-up email. Even though I do get a code sent to an alternate email that sends me to the same damn recovery form, then I get a message they can't identify me..I need to f**ng try again and add more information. I've even tried to add the Hotmail email to my Microsoft account, but it won't accept it.

I've had this same account for over 20 years and never, ever had this issue. It's impossible to speak to a person and even the instructions themselves are a loop.

The last form I submitted, I had to contact a person I'd sent an email to and get the subject line -which I provided. The last password I'd used before I'd recently changed it-which I provided. The form even prompted me for the name and last digits of the credit card that I used to buy Office this past year -which I provided! That was 2 days ago...Crickets!!!

So.. How exactly is a person supposed to proceed?!!

Moved from: Microsoft Security | Microsoft Identity Manager

0 comments

2 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Emmanuel Santana 38,845 Independent Advisor

Hello, which form did you send the second time? Was it the same one?

You can try this:

Go to https://aka.ms/recovermyaccount.
Fill out the recovery form with all the information that's asking you to, there is a box with the title "Alternate emails or phone numbers associated with the account", in there fill out with all the relevant phone numbers or credit cards used on this account, you will need to provide as much information as possible.
After submitting it, you’ll receive an email from msaccountsafety@microsoft.com within 15 minutes to 4 hours, which will include your case number (it starts with SIR).
Check your Inbox, as well as your Spam and Junk folders to find this message. If you haven’t received the email after 4 hours, submit the form again.

You can check this link for more information on how to fill out the form: https://support.microsoft.com/account-billing/guidance-notes-for-the-microsoft-account-recovery-form-4dd8fef1-33d2-4fbe-9352-66127ab9b50e

Itsizzi 0 Reputation points

2025-11-30T00:18:18.6033333+00:00

Thank you for the reply. I had not tried that particular form before. Some of the answers were hard, to be specific as they are questions that most people don't record. For example, it asked for the date of the last time I changed the password, but the confirmation of that change was sent to the email that I can't access. I just came as close as I thought. I never received a reply.

At your suggestion, I sent it again.That was 24 hours ago, and still nothing. I don't think actual people work there. After the submission, it moved to a page that said it could be up to 72 hours, so perhaps in another day or two.

I've pretty much given up hope to ever recover the account, especially since it's next to impossible to speak to a living, breathing person. Sad statement on the customer service of businesses in today's world.
Itsizzi 0 Reputation points

2025-12-02T00:45:35.09+00:00

I tried the form you provided the link to and the response was I'm not providing enough information. It's wanting information about an xBox account, which I don't have. I've submitted it again, an again the same message.
Itsizzi 0 Reputation points

2025-12-02T04:35:45.9966667+00:00

As an update, I received the following reply today:

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to contact us regarding your account takeover issue, We appreciate your patience during this investigation. After a thorough review of your account and billing activity, we found no indication of unauthorized access or fraudulent activity.

URL: https://account.live.com/password/reset. Click or tap if you trust this link. Thank you for your understanding and patience during the investigation of your account.

As you can see that link is right back to where I started.

Answer 2

It sounds like you're experiencing a frustrating situation with your Hotmail account. Here are some steps you can take to try to resolve the login loop and recovery issues:

Clear Browser Cache and Cookies: Sometimes, clearing your browser's cache and cookies can help resolve login issues. Try this and then attempt to log in again.
Use a Different Browser or Device: If clearing the cache doesn't work, try accessing your account from a different web browser or device to see if the issue persists.
Check Recovery Options: Make sure that the recovery options you are using (like your backup email) are up to date. If you have access to any other recovery methods, such as a phone number, try using those as well.
Contact Microsoft Support: Since you mentioned that you are unable to speak to a person, consider reaching out through the Microsoft support page for account recovery. They may have specific instructions or be able to assist you further.
Emergency Access Account: If you are locked out of your account, consider setting up an emergency access account in Microsoft Entra to prevent future lockouts. This account can help you regain access if you encounter similar issues in the future.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, it may be necessary to wait for a response from Microsoft regarding your recovery forms, as they can take time to process.

References:

Share via

Stuck in endless log-in loop, like hundreds of other people

2 answers

Your answer