not receiving emails in inbox all day. i think my account has been hacked. please help

Question

not receiving emails in inbox all day. i think my account has been hacked. please help

Answer 1

Hi molly melhuish

Thank you for describing the issue. From what you shared, I understand that you haven’t received any new emails in your Outlook.com inbox all day, and you’re worried that your account may have been compromised.

I can see that Q&A Assist has already shared recovery and security steps. To avoid repeating it, could you let me know have you already tried those steps yet?

And does this happen with all incoming emails, or just specific ones (like password reset emails)?

Meanwhile, please try the following steps:

1, Double-check Outlook on the web

• Sign in to Outlook on the web in your browser
• Check all folders (Inbox, Junk Email, Deleted Items, Archive), ensure your inbox filter is set to All (not "Unread", "Flagged", etc.)
• Check Focused / Other tab (if Focused Inbox is enabled), emails may land in Other. You can also temporarily turn Focused Inbox off to test.

2, Check for hidden rules/forwarding 

In Outlook on the web's settings, go to:  

• Settings > Mail > Rules/ Sweep: delete any suspicious rules you did not create (especially rules that moves/deletes mail)
• Settings > Mail > Forwarding: make sure nothing is forwarding.

3, Check your storage

If your mailbox storage is full, you can’t send/receive email normally and messages can bounce or fail to arrive. Still in Outlook web, go to Settings > Account > Storage and free up space if needed.

4, Refresh the connection

• Sign out completely and sign back in to check whether new emails appear.
• You can also try in an InPrivate/Incognito browser session from a different browser/device. (If needed, you can then clear the browser cache/cookies for Outlook.com.)

For more details, you can see: How to help keep your Microsoft account secure - Microsoft Support

Please feel free to let me know how it goes and I’d be happy to help you further. Thank you for your time and understanding.

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Answer 2

Follow these steps immediately to protect and troubleshoot the Outlook.com account:

1. Use the hacked-account recovery helper
   • Go to the Sign-in Helper for hacked account issues: Open the Sign-in Helper for support options or hacked account issues.
   • Enter the email address or phone number and follow the guided steps. The tool will either provide self-help options or a path to contact an agent.
2. Check if the Microsoft account is compromised
   • If sign-in fails or shows errors like “We couldn't find an account with that username,” use the same Sign-in Helper to start recovery.
   • For a suspected hacked Microsoft/Outlook.com account, follow the guidance in How to recover a hacked or compromised Microsoft account and start from the Start link there.
3. Review recent account activity
   • After signing in, go to the recent activity page at https://account.live.com/activity (opened via the Check your account's recent activity link).
   • Review sign-ins and security challenges. If unfamiliar locations/devices appear, this strongly indicates compromise.
4. Secure the account
   • Change the password to a strong, unique one (not reused elsewhere).
   • Add or confirm alternate email and mobile phone number as security info so recovery is easier if the account is hacked again.
   • If unusual activity is confirmed, use the hacked-account recovery flow again to ensure all security checks are completed.
5. Protect Outlook.com usage going forward
   • Be cautious with suspicious emails:
     • Only trust messages that show the trusted sender icon and correct mail header.
     • Treat yellow safety bars as a warning; do not download attachments or click links unless the sender is trusted and verified.
     • Delete messages with a red safety bar, as they may be unsafe.
6. Secure devices used with the account
   • Ensure the computer or phone has the latest operating system updates enabled automatically.
   • Use reputable antivirus software and keep it updated; run a full scan on devices used to access Outlook.com.

If email still does not arrive after securing the account and confirming no ongoing compromise, continue working with the Sign-in Helper flow for additional support options.

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References:

• Hello , welcome to Account help & learning
• Help protect your Outlook.com email account
• How to recover a hacked or compromised Microsoft account