I can't change the Primary Alias on my Microsoft account to any of the other four aliases I have

Question

I'm seeking help in changing the primary alias on my Microsoft account, please!

My Microsoft account is under a @hotmail.com account created about 15 years ago.

I have four other @outlook.com aliases which I have created over the years for use with other companies.

All of those addresses work for sending and receiving emails.

When I go into my Account Dashboard and try to change my primary alias to ANY of the other four addresses on the account, it says there's a problem and to try again later.

When I go to remove the @hotmail.com account as my primary alias, it tell me I must first make one of the other addresses the primary one, but as stated above, it won't let me do that.

I have been attempting this for more than a year.

Help, please!

Thanks...

/Raven

Answer 1

Hi Raven,

Since all four @outlook.com addresses already appear as aliases on the same Microsoft account, you should normally be able to select “Make primary” beside any one of them. Microsoft confirms that this is the supported way to change the primary alias.

Since you have been getting the same error for over a year with every alias, this is unlikely to be a temporary browser issue. I would contact Microsoft Account Support and ask them to investigate why the account is refusing the primary-alias change.

One important warning: do not remove your current @hotmail.com alias while troubleshooting. Microsoft states that removing a Microsoft-domain alias permanently deletes that address, and it cannot be added back later.

Thank you, and feel free to respond back for more assistance.