Losing a Microsoft account can be quite distressing especially if you do not have an alternate means of recovering it in the form of either an alternative email or a phone number. Thankfully, Microsoft has a backup account recovery alternative through its account recovery form and identity verification tools. To restore your account trust the following steps.
Read: How to Change Microsoft Word to Light Mode
Why You Might Lose Access to Your Microsoft Account:
Due to the following, you can be deprived of your Microsoft account:
- Forgot Password: If you don’t remember the password you set and did not set any recovery options.
- Security Risk: Your account may get a lock on it for unusual activities.
- Inactive Recovery Information: When the backup email or phone number has been disposed of.
Steps to Recover Your Microsoft Account:
1- The Recovery Process Initiation
- Get onto the Microsoft Account Recovery Page.
- The user has to input either a phone number, email address, or Skype name linked with the account.
- If the account has no recovery method then click I don’t have any of these and press next.
2- Fill Out the Account Recovery Form:
Microsoft will prompt you to fill out a detailed account recovery form.
- Provide an Accessible Email Address: Microsoft will contact you via this email.
- Answer Security Questions: Be prepared to share:
- Previously used passwords.
- Approximate date of account creation.
- Names of services used (e.g., Xbox, OneDrive).
- Recent email subject lines (if applicable).
- Submit the Form: Once submitted, wait for Microsoft to verify your responses.
3- Use a Trusted Device or Network:
- Try to access your account on a device or network that you’ve often used before.
- Microsoft smoothens the process of identity verification by, remembering previously encountered devices and networks.
4- Wait for Microsoft’s Response
- Microsoft typically responds within 24-48 hours.
- If your information matches their records, they’ll provide a recovery link or further instructions.
Contact Microsoft Support (IF Need Be):
- Addressing Microsoft Support if you fail to recover your account information is parting your account with ownership.
- Given the chance: Receipts or confirmations of purchase(s) that legitimized your account.
- Finer details on when the account was created, and the expectancy around contributions, market campaigns, deploys etc.
Best Practices for Future Security:
- Add Backup Recovery Options: Link a secondary email or phone number.
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): This provides extra protection.
- Keep Records of Important Information: Note key details like account creation dates and purchase history.
Conclusion
If done properly, recovering such accounts from Microsoft is not difficult at all. If the account hasn’t had a trust device usage or the account recovery form wasn’t filled properly, that is the account’s fault. Updating device settings for the account in use is vital for addressing such services in the future.
