How to change alias to a deleted account's gmail

Question

My current Microsoft account is associated with my old email, I was attempting to change the alias to my new email, however since I had a Microsoft 365 account associated with my new email, I was unable to merge accounts. I then deleted my Microsoft 365 account in an attempt to use that email for my alias on my current Microsoft account, but i keep receiving an error saying the email is still associated with another account. I also understand that I am still within the recovery period for my other account, meaning the email is still associated with the deleted account, but I have read online that once an email exists with an account (even after being deleted) it cannot be transferred over to a new account. I would just like some clarification on whether that is true. Both emails i have mentioned are Gmail.

Answer 1

Gmail addresses used as Microsoft account aliases can be moved, but only after they are fully released from any other Microsoft account. The key points from Microsoft’s alias behavior are:

1. Microsoft vs non-Microsoft domains
   • If an alias is from a Microsoft domain (like @hotmail.com, @live.com, @outlook.com, @msn.com) and is removed, it is permanently deleted and can never be associated with any Microsoft account again.
   • If an alias is from a non-Microsoft domain (like @gmail.com), then after it is removed from the old account, it “usually becomes immediately available to be added as an alias on another Microsoft account.”
   Your case uses Gmail, so the “permanently deleted” rule does not apply. The Gmail address can be reused, but only once it is no longer tied to the other Microsoft account.
2. Why the error appears now
   You are still within the recovery/closure period for the old Microsoft account that used the Gmail address. During that period, the account (and its sign-in alias) still exists in Microsoft’s system, so:
   • The Gmail address is still considered associated with that (closing) account.
   • When trying to add it as an alias to the other account, Microsoft blocks it with “email is still associated with another account.”
3. What “cannot be transferred” really means
   There is no supported way to merge or transfer data, purchases, or subscriptions between Microsoft accounts. That part is correct: closing one account and adding its email as an alias to another does not move any content or licenses.
   However, for a Gmail address:
   • It can be used later as an alias on a different Microsoft account, as long as it has been fully removed from the original account (and that account is no longer holding it during the recovery window).
4. What to do next
   Once the recovery/closure period for the deleted Microsoft 365/Microsoft account ends and that account is fully closed, the Gmail address should be released. At that point:
   1. Go to the “how you sign in” page for the Microsoft account you want to keep: Edit account info.
   2. Select Add email.
   3. Choose to use an existing email and enter the Gmail address (the one that was on the deleted account).
   4. Complete verification and, if desired, set it as the primary alias.
   If the Gmail address was not removed as an alias before starting account closure, it may remain blocked until the closure process fully completes. During that time, it cannot be added anywhere else.

So, for Gmail addresses: they are not permanently locked to the old account after deletion the way Microsoft-domain aliases are. They just cannot be reused until they are fully released from the original account, and no data or subscriptions will follow them when reused.

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References:

• Add or remove an email alias in Outlook.com
• How to add an email address or phone number to your Microsoft account
• Change the email address or phone number for your Microsoft account
• Deleted hotmail email address from account - can I get it back? - Microsoft Q&A
• I realize I have 2 different accounts. How do I combine the 2? - Microsoft Q&A

Answer 2

Thank you.