Lost access to my personal account

Question

I have lost access to my personal account (not this one). I've tried to answer questions but I haven't sent many emails but receive lots of important emails. I can never "guess" my subjects and email addresses sent. Please someone help me.

Answer 1

Hi @Shawn Raines

I'm truly sorry to hear that you've lost access to your account, I understand how frustrating and stressful that can be, especially when it's tied to important communications. Please know you're not alone in this. I'm here to help guide you through the recovery process step by step, and we'll do everything we can to help you regain access. 

Since remembering sent email details is a challenge, we'll focus on the Microsoft account recovery form. This is often the most effective path when other options aren't working, as it's designed to gather enough information to verify, you're the legitimate owner, even if you can't recall every small detail. 

Here's how to approach the account recovery process: 

1. Go to the Account Recovery Page

Please visit https://account.live.com/acsr. This is the official Microsoft recovery form where you can request to regain access to your account. 

2. Fill in as Much Information as You Can

Don't worry if you can't fill in every single field perfectly. Just provide as much accurate information as you possibly can: 

• Your first and last name. 
• The email address you’re trying to recover. 
• Alternate email or phone number linked to the account. 
• Approximate passwords you’ve used in the past. 
• Any other details you remember. 

If possible, try submitting the form from a device or location you’ve signed in from before—like your home laptop or phone. This can help confirm your identity more effectively. 

3. Check Your Alternate Email

After submitting the form, Microsoft will usually respond within 24 hours to the contact email you provided on the form. If the first attempt doesn’t work, don’t be discouraged, you can always try again with more detail. 

Please note that, for your security, Microsoft agents can’t directly access or modify your account details. That’s why this form is the safest and most secure method to recover your account. 

If the form doesn’t work after several attempts, I recommend reaching out to Microsoft Support directly here: https://support.microsoft.com/contactus 

You can sign in with another Microsoft account (if you have one), describe the issue, and request chat or callback support. 

I understand this may feel overwhelming, but take your time, give it your best shot, and know that I’m rooting for you every step of the way. 

Please try these steps, and if you run into any specific questions about the form itself, or just need a little more clarity, don't hesitate to reach out. I'm here to help you through this. 

---

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".  

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.