Device does not appear in microsoft account website

Question

I have a laptop with Windows 11 Pro and when I look at settings-accounts-linked devices the device appears, but when I go to the microsoft account website it is not there. The main issue I am encountering is that my laptop is not getting the windows updates. I think the main cause is that it is trying to update an older laptop that appears as the first linked device. I deleted the other device but it still persists in the accounts-linked devices under settings.

Answer 1

Hi BeachRoman,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A forum.

What you’re seeing is the difference between how Windows shows account-linked devices locally and how the Microsoft account website lists registered devices. This mismatch does not mean anything is wrong with your account, and it does not cause updates to install on the wrong laptop.

If updates are not installing on this laptop, the cause is local to that device (for example, update components or system state), not the presence or order of other devices on the account.

Please try this troubleshooting steps:

Reset Windows Update components

• Open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters
• Run Windows Update
• Restart the laptop
• Check Settings > Windows Update again

If updates still don’t appear, you can consider the option below:

A repair install keeps files and apps while refreshing update components.

• Download the Windows 11 installation media
• Run setup from within Windows
• Choose Keep personal files and apps

Let me know if you need further assistance, feel free to ask me by clicking "Add Comment" or "Add Answer" if you cannot add comment so your response will be visible. Thanks for your effort.

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Answer 2

might be off, but when a device ghosts like that it’s almost always the local join token half-corrupt, not the portal. I’d nuke it with a quick dsregcmd /leave and re‑join clean and that’s the only thing that’s ever kicked stuck updates back to life for me.