microsoft hello wrong account

Question

after a recent update ive been trying to log in to my minecraft account but it wont work as its forcing me to sign into someone elses account. when the first page pops up it shows me my own email address but one i click next it shows me a different account. ive scoured my pc but cant find this account anywhere

Answer 1

Hi, @Cian Senior

To help narrow this down:

1. When the different account appears, does the window mention Windows Hello, a PIN, or “Making sure it’s you”?
2. Does that unknown account appear under Settings > Accounts > Email & accounts, especially under “Accounts used by other apps”?
3. Are you signing in through the Minecraft Launcher, Xbox app, or Microsoft Store?

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In the meantime, sign out of the Minecraft Launcher, Xbox app, and Microsoft Store, then restart the PC. Sign back into all three using the same Microsoft account that owns Minecraft.

Also, open https://account.microsoft.com in a private/incognito browser window and check whether you can sign in normally with the correct Minecraft account. This will help determine whether the problem is with the account itself or a cached account on the PC.

If the wrong account still appears, please let me know exactly where it appears in the sign-in process. A screenshot would also help, but please hide any personal information.

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Click "Add comment" to let me know.

Thanks!

Answer 2

This usually means the Minecraft sign-in is being redirected to a different Microsoft account than the one that owns the game, or the account has conflicting sign-in details.

Try this in order:

1. On the Microsoft sign-in page, enter the email address shown on the first screen.
   • If the next screen changes to a different account, that can indicate the email is associated with more than one Microsoft identity.
   • If a screen appears asking "Which account do you want to use?", choose the correct Personal account if the Minecraft purchase is tied to a personal Microsoft account.
2. Check whether the email address is actually the Microsoft account.
   • Go to the Microsoft account sign-in page and enter the email.
   • If it shows "We couldn't find an account with that username" or "That Microsoft account doesn't exist", that address is not the Microsoft account currently being used.
   • If it shows a password prompt, that email is a Microsoft account.
3. Use the Microsoft account Sign-in Helper.
   • Enter the email address or mobile number being used for sign-in.
   • The tool checks the account details and tells what action is needed if it finds a problem.
4. If the username and password used to work but no longer do, start account recovery.
   • Use Recover your account.
   • If the email is not recognized, try another alias or phone number that may be on the account.
   • Also verify the email domain carefully, such as .com versus .co.uk.
5. If the account appears compromised or shows an unknown verification address, treat it as a security issue.
   • On the Microsoft account Security basics page, review recent activity.
   • If there is sign-in activity that was not authorized, select This wasn't me or Secure your account.
   • Then change the password.
   • If sign-in is blocked, use Forgot my password and choose I think someone else is using my Microsoft account.
6. If Minecraft was working on the old PC, check which Microsoft account actually owns the game there.
   • Open Microsoft Store on the old PC.
   • Select the profile icon in the top-right and check which account is signed in.
   • Use that same account in Minecraft Launcher, Microsoft Store, and Xbox on the current PC.
7. If the issue is caused by two Microsoft accounts using the same email address, the personal Microsoft account can be renamed by changing the primary alias in Manage how you sign in.
   • This can remove the repeated account-selection problem.
   • Be careful: changing aliases does not transfer Minecraft ownership between accounts.

If the account cannot be identified after these steps, use Microsoft Support through the contact flow for account sign-in issues.

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References:

• Which account do you want to use?
• How to check if your email address is a Microsoft account
• Microsoft account sign-in helper
• My username and password have stopped working
• What happens if there's an unusual sign-in to your account
• Minecraft/Microsoft Account Issue - Microsoft Q&A
• I can't sign in to my Microsoft account