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I added a new alias, but now can't receive messages at my previous alias that everything goes to.

Akline 0 Reputation points
2026-03-14T01:20:43.09+00:00

I tried to go back to old alias, but now receive a message that is already taken, but when I try to email the email I've used for over 6 years from my work email s address I received an undeliverable response.How do I get back to the address everyone knows?

Outlook | Web | Outlook.com | Account management, security, and privacy
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  1. EmilyS726 222.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-03-14T01:55:27.4+00:00

    Hello

    Is the old alias an outlook.com/hotmail.com address? Did you end up deleting the old address?

    If so, once it is deleted from a Microsoft account as an alias, that account is gone permanently. Microsoft doesn't reuse its own email address, so it cannot be added to created as alias again.

    Microsoft explains it here: https://support.microsoft.com/office/add-or-remove-an-email-alias-in-outlook-com-459b1989-356d-40fa-a689-8f285b13f1f2 Under the section "Remove an email address", it says: "Are you sure? If you remove an alias that's an email address from a Microsoft domain (like @hotmail.com, @live.com, @outlook.com, or @msn.com), you're permanently deleting the alias and it can't be associated with any Microsoft account again."

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  2. Q&A Assist
    2026-03-14T01:20:52.4966667+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    Removing an alias from a Microsoft account permanently deletes it as an alias and it cannot be added back or reused. When an alias is removed, messages sent to that address will no longer be delivered, which matches the undeliverable responses being received now. There is no supported way to restore a removed alias or reclaim that exact address once it has been deleted.

    To continue receiving mail, use the remaining active alias on the Microsoft account, or add and use a different alias:

    1. Go to the Microsoft account website and sign in.
    2. Select Your info.
    3. Select Manage how you sign in to Microsoft.
    4. Use Add email to add another email address as an alias if needed, then set the preferred one as the primary alias.

    Share the active address (current primary alias) with contacts going forward, since the previous alias cannot be reactivated.


    References:

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