How to change the recovery email address that no longer exists

Question

Recovery email address is of my previous job and no longer active. I need to change it - how do I do this?

Answer 1

Hello,

Do you have any other recovery methods, such as another recovery email address or Phone number, to verify your identity?

If yes, you can sign in to the Security Settings page of your Personal Microsoft Account here -

https://account.live.com/proofs/Manage

• Make sure you have at least three verification methods to confirm your identity.
• Then, remove the email address you want removed.

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If you no longer have any other recovery email address to Verify Your Identity:

• On the Verify Your Identity screen, select "I don't have any of these" and follow the prompts to replace your Security information.

Note - If you remove all of your previous security information and replace it with something new, your account will be put into a restricted state for 30 days.

Answer 2

If this is the recovery/verification email for a personal Microsoft account, update the security info first:

1. Go to Manage how you sign in to Microsoft: Edit account info.
2. Add a new email address with Add email if needed.
3. Add the new email as a way to verify sign-in, then remove the old recovery email after the new method is working.

Important details:

• Verification codes sent by email can only be sent to the primary alias or another email already added as a way to verify sign-in.
• An organization may restrict adding its email addresses.
• If the old recovery email is from a previous job, it may not be allowed or usable anymore.

If access to the old security info is no longer available and sign-in verification cannot be completed, use the support and recovery options:

• guided support tool
• Sign-in helper
• Contact Microsoft Support

If this is a work or school account instead of a personal Microsoft account:

1. Sign in to My Account.
2. Go to Security info.
3. Select Add method > Email.
4. Enter a non-work/non-school email address and verify it.
5. Delete the old email from Security info.

Important: for work or school accounts, the verification email cannot be the work or school email address.

If self-service changes are blocked in the organization, contact the Microsoft 365 administrator or internal help desk.

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• How to add an email address to your Microsoft account
• Change the email address for your Microsoft account
• Set up an email address as your verification method
• Find the administrator for your work or school account