My microsoft account appears as "doesn't exist" despite me buying Minecraft on it not long ago how do I access my account and purchases

Question

Hello Microsoft Support Team,

I would like to consult about my Microsoft account. After a recent Windows update, I was logged out of all applications using this account. When I try to sign in, it says “account not found” or “account doesn’t exist.”

I have the receipts for my purchases, including Minecraft Java Edition, and I would like to know if it is possible to recover my account and associated purchases.

My Microsoft account email is: (PII Removed ****@gmail.com) My Minecraft Java username is: (PII Removed)

Please let me know what steps I should follow to restore access. Thank you very much for your assistance.

Best regards,

Plax Reeves

Answer 1

Hey there! Nice to meet you!

Kindly double-check if the account name was typed correctly. Also, if you have not signed in for more than 2 years, your account may have already been deleted/closed due to inactivity.

As stated by Microsoft, accounts that have not been signed in or have been locked for more than 2 years will be deleted due to inactivity, and they can no longer be recovered: https://support.microsoft.com/topic/microsoft-account-activity-policy-7c0a9fa7-0982-b7c6-fd72-df852b63699f

If none of the scenarios above are applicable, the error you are experiencing is an indication that your account was compromised. The hacker was able to remove the account's primary email address/security info and replace it with their own email address, which is why your account is not recognized when signing in.

If the security info has been replaced by the hacker, I'm afraid there is no other working method to recover the Microsoft account, and Microsoft Support cannot help either.

However, I would recommend reaching out to Minecraft Support regarding your Minecraft account if they can provide an alternative option:

https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/request/new?ticket_form_id=360001225811

Thank you for your understanding.

Best regards,

Darhyl

Answer 2

Follow these steps to check and try to recover the account and purchases:

1. Confirm whether the email is still a Microsoft account
   1. Go to https://account.microsoft.com and enter the Gmail address.
   2. If a password prompt appears, the email is still a Microsoft account. Proceed with password reset.
   3. If the message “We couldn't find an account with that username” or “That Microsoft account doesn't exist” appears, that address is currently not recognized as a Microsoft account. In that case:
      • Carefully check spelling of the name and domain (for example, name vs nane, .com vs .co.uk).
      • The account may have been closed or deleted. See the “Learn more” article in the reference below about closed accounts.
2. If the email is recognized (password prompt appears)
   1. On the password screen, select “Forgot password?” and follow the reset process to regain access.
   2. If there are issues getting verification codes (email/phone), use the verification-code troubleshooting steps in the reference.
   3. If the password reset still fails and the account is not accessible, use the Sign-in Helper tool to troubleshoot sign-in issues and recovery options: Sign-in Helper tool.
3. If the email is not recognized as a Microsoft account
   1. First, verify again using the steps in section 1 to ensure there is no typo.
   2. If the account is still reported as non-existent, use the Sign-in Helper tool to confirm status and see if any recovery path is available: Sign-in Helper tool.
   3. If the account has been closed or deleted (for example, inactive for a long period), it may no longer be possible to reopen it. The references explain that accounts not used for more than two years can be deleted and cannot be reopened.
4. Use the Microsoft account recovery form (if the account is recognized)
   1. If the account exists but normal reset methods fail, fill out the Microsoft account recovery form: Account recovery form.
   2. Complete it from a device and location previously used with the account (for example, home PC where Minecraft was played) to improve the chance of success.
   3. Provide as much accurate information as possible (old passwords, approximate creation date, purchase details, devices used).
   4. If two-step verification was enabled and none of the verification methods are accessible, support cannot override this or reset the account.
5. About Minecraft and purchases
   • If the Microsoft account cannot be recovered (for example, it truly “doesn’t exist” or was deleted), there is no supported way in the provided context to move or restore Microsoft Store purchases from that deleted account.
   • For Minecraft-specific help (Java/Bedrock entitlements) if the Microsoft account cannot be recovered, contact Minecraft Support separately as suggested in the referenced Q&A; they may offer options for Minecraft access even if the Microsoft account is lost.

If all recovery options fail (email not recognized, recovery form not possible or unsuccessful), the context indicates there is no further escalation path within Microsoft account support to restore that specific Microsoft account or its purchases.

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References:

• How to check if your email address is a Microsoft account
• I can't sign in to my Microsoft account
• Help with the Microsoft account recovery form
• Cannot Access Microsoft Account After Hacker Changed Email, Advice Needed - Microsoft Q&A
• MSN email issues - Microsoft Q&A