How to delete a recovery email

Question

I would like to create a Microsoft account with the email: ******@gmail.com however when i try to create the email it states that "The email ******@gmail.com is a recovery method for an existing Microsoft account. If you know your username, sign in. If not, recover your username first." I have logged in to the account (this one ******@outlook.com) and there is no recovery email for me to delete. I am unsure how to move forward as i cant delete the recovery email for this one to create the other Microsoft account

Answer 1

Hello

Launch your web browser in incognito mode, then go to https://account.live.com, enter the gmail address as username, then use forgot password to see if you can recover account.

If you manage to recover it, once you sign in, go to Your Info > Sign in preference, Add an alias.

Create new: this will allow you to use the native domain outlook.com to create a new alias.

Once added, make this new alias your primary alias, then you can delete the Gmail as alias, and that email is free from this Microsoft account instantly. After that, you can add it to the account you want to use.

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In the account you want to add your Gmail, you also want to consider going to Security > Manage How I sign in, and add it here too.

Answer 2

The Gmail address is already in use as security info (recovery method) on another Microsoft account. It must be removed from that other account’s security info before it can be used to create a new Microsoft account.

There are two separate places where email addresses are stored in Microsoft identities:

1. As an alias/sign-in address on a personal Microsoft account (Outlook.com, Hotmail, Live, MSN).
2. As a security info method (verification/recovery email) on a work/school or personal account.

Because the message explicitly says it is a “recovery method,” the Gmail address is almost certainly configured as security info on some Microsoft account.

To free the Gmail address so it can be used for a new account, follow this process on the account where it is currently registered:

1. Identify which Microsoft account is using the Gmail as security info
   • Use the “recover your username” flow mentioned in the message and enter the Gmail address. This will show which Microsoft account(s) it is associated with.
   • Sign in to that account.
2. Remove the Gmail address from Security info
   • Sign in to the account at the My Account page.
   • Select Security info in the left navigation or from the Security info block.
   • In Security info, locate the Email method that shows the Gmail address.
   • Select the Delete link next to that Email method.
   • Confirm by selecting Yes in the confirmation box.
   • After deletion, the Gmail address is removed from the account’s security info and disappears from the Security info page.
   Important:
   • If the Gmail address is deleted by mistake, it cannot be “undeleted” as a security method; it must be added again manually if needed.
3. Try creating the new Microsoft account with the Gmail address again
   • Once the Gmail address is no longer present as security info on any Microsoft account, repeat the account creation process using that Gmail address.

If the Gmail address is also configured as an alias on some personal Microsoft account, it must be removed there as well:

1. Go to Manage how you sign in to Microsoft (the “Manage how you sign in to your account” page).
2. Sign in with the account that has the Gmail alias.
3. Under Account aliases, select Remove next to the Gmail alias.
   • If it is the primary alias, first choose another alias and select Make primary, then remove the Gmail alias.

After the Gmail address is removed from both security info and any aliases, it can be used to create a new Microsoft account.

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References:

• Set up an email address as your verification method
• Add or remove an email alias in Outlook.com

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