School Account

Question

Hi, I need to get into my old school account. It is only active up until a year after graduation. I really need my account and the phone number that is connected to it I no longer have. I don't remember my password so I can't have it text me a code to get into the account since I do not have that number anymore. Please tell me there is another way into my account. I really need it.

Answer 1

Hello,

Microsoft does not directly manage organization users. Instead, each organization's IT administrator is responsible for managing its users according to its internal protocols.

Whether you should still have this account after graduation is the organization's internal decision. If that's their policy that you can keep your account active, and you cannot get in, contact your school's IT department. They can reset your security, including password for you via Admin Center, a portal Microsoft provides for organization admin users to manage their organization account, which includes their internal users, permissions, licenses, content, policies, etc. Microsoft doesn't have permission to directly manage organization users bypassing their admin users.

Answer 2

For a former school account where the phone number is no longer available and the password is forgotten, the only supported options are:

1. If the account is a work/school (Microsoft 365/Entra) account managed by the school
   • The school (tenant admin/IT or help desk) controls the account. Microsoft support cannot override their policies.
   • Contact the school’s IT/help desk or the department that issued the account and ask them to:
     • Reset the password, and/or
     • Update or clear the security info (phone/email) on the account so a new verification method can be added.
   • If the school has already fully disabled or deleted the account (common after graduation), it typically cannot be reactivated or recovered.
   Guidance on who to contact:
   • Universities and schools: contact the school’s technical support team or help desk listed on the school’s main website.
   • If unsure, ask the person/office that originally gave the account details.
2. If this is a personal Microsoft account (Outlook.com/Hotmail) rather than a school‑managed tenant
   • When all security info (phone/email) is lost and the password is not known, the only supported path is account recovery via the Microsoft account recovery form.
   • Follow the steps in Help with the Microsoft account recovery form and submit the form with as much accurate information as possible. Use: Help with the Microsoft account recovery form then Recover account.
   • If recovery is successful, sign in and immediately update security info (phone/email) so future codes can be received.
3. If it is a work/school account and all security info is lost but the password is known
   • Use the documented flow for lost security info:
     • Start sign‑in: Sign in.
     • At “Verify your identity,” choose I don't have any of these.
     • Follow the prompts to replace security info.
     • After replacement, there is a mandatory 30‑day wait before normal sign‑in is allowed.
4. If it is a work/school account and both password and all security info are lost
   • For personal Microsoft accounts, use the recovery form as above.
   • For school‑managed accounts, only the school’s administrator/help desk can assist; if they have removed the account, it cannot be recovered through Microsoft self‑service.

There is no alternate backdoor or manual override by Microsoft support if:

• The account is expired/removed by the school, or
• The recovery form for a personal account is unsuccessful after multiple accurate attempts.

---

References:

• I've lost access to my security info
• Find the administrator for your work or school account
• Common problems with two-step verification for a work or school account
• Help with the Microsoft account recovery form
• Can't sign in to my email - Microsoft Q&A
• I need to speak with a real person and it seems impossible. - Microsoft Q&A