Outlook Primary Account wrong

Question

Can't receive emails on "Outlook for windows" for over a week. Have uninstalled it on two computers where it would not accept email password on login for my account. Tried to fix using many answers on how to fix the account and password recovery. Logged in into the main Outlook.com website and open the file tab - Account Info - it shows an account of ******@outlook.com. Have no idea why this is currently listed. It is not my account. When I try to manage the account under the "Manage" button it shows no options or anything on removing the primary account. Tried to fix under the account manager by trying to "sign out and forget" the current email address but it shows it can't. It states "Couldn't sign out of this account please try again. I have install a different email program on the other computers so I can get emails and have no email problems on the new email programs will my current passwords. Would like to fix and use "Outlook for windows" and Outlook.com, if possible. Otherwise I will completely delete this app from all my devices.

Answer 1

@James Jessmer said

Can't receive emails on "Outlook for windows"

1 -- Can you confirm that you are using New Outlook for Windows?

You are running the Outlook on a PC. You are not opening Outlook in a browser? And if you click "File" on the Outlook Main Menu, do you have a "Settings" choice? Then you have "New Outlook for Windows"

Shows correct email account but will not accept current password. Under IMAP setup shows correct server information but when I enter current password

2 -- Are you trying to add a Microsoft hosted email account? i.e. Your email address ends with outlook.com, hotmail.com, live.com, or msn.com? If not, what is the domain (the part after the "@") in your email address?

shows the account again as a long list of letters and numbers

That is the placeholder email address that Microsoft assigned to your account when you first created it.

we limit how frequently you can change your primary alias

3 -- Did you Remove any of the aliases that were displayed at https://account.live.com/names/manage ? If so, which ones?

4 -- If you are using a Microsoft hosted email account, What does the Account Sign-In Helper say about the status of your account?

• In a Private/Incognito browser session, open: https://aka.ms/sign-in-helper
• Scroll down to "Choose how you normally sign in, then enter your details"
• Click "With an email address"
• Enter your email address and click [OK]

Answer 2

Followed AI answers. Signed into https://account.live.com/names/Manage and signed in Outlook.com, set to primary alias, then removed the account in outlook for windows and added it back. RE-Start up "Outlook for windows" Shows correct email account but will not accept current password. Under IMAP setup shows correct server information but when I enter current password - it shows that "your email provider can no longer connect to Outlook to fix see this" - then refers to removing your account and re-adding it. Going back into Outlook.com shows the account again as a long list of letters and numbers. Going back into accounts names manager it displays - we limit how frequently you can change your primary alias. Try again next week. So I say it did not work and would not download emails.

Answer 3

This matches a known Outlook for Windows issue where an Outlook.com account can appear as outlook_[long series of letters and numbers]@outlook.com or another unexpected Outlook.com alias. The supported workaround is:

1. Go to https://account.live.com/names/Manage and sign in to the Outlook.com account.
2. Set the correct Outlook.com email address as the primary alias.
3. In Outlook for Windows, remove the account and then add it again.

If another alias does not already exist, create one first by choosing Add email and a new alias and then Create a new email address and add it as an alias.

To remove and re-add the account in Outlook for Windows:

• In classic Outlook for Windows: File > Account Settings > Account Settings > select the account > Remove > Yes. Removing the account deletes offline cached content stored on that computer, but does not deactivate the email account.
• To add it again in new Outlook for Windows: View > View settings or File > Account info > Accounts > Your accounts > Add Account > enter the email address > Continue > enter the password.

If Outlook still rejects the password after the alias is corrected:

1. If the password was changed recently, sign in again when Outlook prompts for the account and enter the new password.
2. If Outlook shows a message asking to create an app password, get the app password from the email provider and use that instead of the regular password.
3. For classic Outlook, if the app is disconnected, check the status bar for Disconnected, Working Offline, or Trying to connect.... If needed, go to Send/Receive and turn off Work Offline.

If the account in Outlook for Windows still cannot be signed out or removed normally, correcting the primary alias first and then removing and re-adding the account is the documented workaround for this symptom.

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References:

• Outlook.com email account appears as "outlook_[long series of letters and numbers]@outlook.com" in Outlook for Windows
• Fixes or workarounds for recent issues on Outlook.com
• Add an email account to Outlook for Windows
• Change or update email account settings in Outlook for Windows
• I can't send or receive messages in Outlook