Email Account assistance

Question

I went on to my Microsoft Account and added a secondary email address to my profile. I then went and added that secondary email to Outlook. It seemed fine at first, but due to some unknown technical issues, the email doesn't work via the Outlook app. Microsoft prompted me for the log in for that secondary email, and it's now telling me that email address doesn't exist. It then prompts me to create an outlook.com email. When I enter that email address, I get an error telling me that the email already exists. I am stuck in a loop. However, when I go to the browser and type in outlook.com, the emails are seemingly there, but not displaying the correct email username. It's giving me a generic email address showing outlook_ABB**** @outlook.com that actually appears to be the secondary email I created with that generic name instead. I know this is confusing, but I am stuck. I don't know how to correct this so that I can once again use and display the proper email account name. I have searched, but have found nothing specific about this particular conundrum.

Answer 1

It sounds like you're experiencing a complex issue with your Outlook account and the secondary email address you added. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the problem:

1. Check Account Settings: Ensure that the secondary email address is correctly added to your Microsoft account. You can do this by logging into your Microsoft account via a web browser and verifying the email addresses associated with your account.
2. Remove and Re-add the Email: If the secondary email appears to be causing issues, try removing it from your Outlook profile and then re-adding it. To do this:
   • Open Outlook and go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
   • Select the problematic email account and choose Remove.
   • After removing, add the account again by selecting New and following the prompts.
3. Create a New Alias: If the secondary email is not working, consider creating a new alias for your Microsoft account. This can be done in the Microsoft account settings under Your info > Manage how you sign in to Microsoft. This might help in resolving conflicts with existing email addresses.
4. Use the Correct Email Address: When setting up Outlook, ensure you are using the correct email address and credentials. If you are prompted to create a new Outlook.com email, it may indicate that the secondary email is not recognized as valid.
5. Check for Existing Accounts: If you receive an error stating that the email already exists, it may mean that the email address is linked to another Microsoft account. You can use the sign-in assistance flow to find out which account is linked to that email.
6. Contact Support: If the issue persists, consider reaching out to Microsoft support for further assistance. They can provide more specific guidance based on your account details.

These steps should help you navigate through the issues you're facing with your Outlook account and the secondary email address.