Cannot create free email address

Question

Hi

I cannot create a free email address; says account creation is blocked, detected unusual activity. What should I do

Answer 1

Hey Tahir,

Before you go through the hassle of getting someone else to set up an account for you, quick question: do you specifically need a completely separate Microsoft account with its own login and password, or do you just need an extra email address to send and receive emails from?

Answer 2

Hi!

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A forum.

Can you tell me are you trying to create a new free Outlook.com email address (such as ******@outlook.com), or are you trying to create a Microsoft account using an existing Gmail or other email address?

Answer 3

@Tahir Anjam said

I cannot create a free email address; says account creation is blocked, detected unusual activity

Ongoing problem for many people. See: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accounts-billing/manage/account-creation-has-been-blocked

If all else fails, get a trusted friend or relative in another location to try and do the create for you. Make sure they put an "Email a code" 2nd verification on the account. You'll need it when you try to logon for the first time from a different location.

Answer 4

This is usually a temporary security block triggered by unusual activity, repeated sign-up attempts, or the network or verification method being used.

Try these steps in order:

1. Stop trying for at least 24 hours. Repeated attempts can keep the block active. If it still fails after 24 hours, wait longer if possible, up to 1 week.
2. Try a different network. Switch between Wi‑Fi and mobile data, or use another trusted Wi‑Fi connection.
3. If another verification method is available, use that instead.
4. If creating a brand-new Microsoft account, try again from the Microsoft sign-up page: https://signup.live.com.
5. If the address might already be tied to a Microsoft account, check it by going to https://account.microsoft.com and entering the email address:
   • If a password prompt appears, it is already a Microsoft account.
   • If the message says the account does not exist, it is not currently a Microsoft account.
6. If the account is an Outlook.com account that became blocked, reset the password to unblock it.

If an Outlook.com or OneDrive mailbox is full, email sending and receiving can also be affected.

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