Forum Discussion
Microsoft account locked
I am out of ideas and extremely frustrated with the lack of support offered by Microsoft.
I was prompted to reset my password this morning (i didnt request it)
Sadly i do not know the current password and had not saved in Google Chrome.
I do have access to the authenticator on my mobile so i figured it would be simple!
No matter what i tried i could not reset the password. Now i have locked the account trying incorrect passwords to many times.
Is there a way that i can actually get physical support from Microsoft?
I have a family history of images on Onedrive that i simply cannot lose access to.
Xbox history and purchased games, less important but still annoying.
Outlook, years of emails and attachements.
If anyone has any ideas im all ears...
hi Budedwards That sounds frustrating, especially when the account contains years of OneDrive photos, Outlook emails, and other important data. Having access to Microsoft Authenticator is helpful, although it doesn't always mean that a password reset can be completed without additional verification.
Since there have already been several unsuccessful login attempts, it would be best to avoid trying more passwords for now, as repeated attempts can result in a longer temporary lockout.
The next step would be to use Microsoft's official account recovery process and provide as much of the requested information as possible. If the automated recovery process doesn't work, contacting Microsoft Support would be the appropriate next step so they can guide you through the available account-recovery options.
One particularly important thing: if the account is still signed in on another PC, phone, Xbox, or browser, don't sign out of it yet. An existing signed-in session may allow you to review your security information, check recent account activity, or secure/back up important OneDrive files.
Since you didn't initiate the password-reset request, also check the account's recent sign-in/security activity for anything you don't recognize. If there are unfamiliar changes, follow Microsoft's security recommendations before making further changes to the account.
Unfortunately, there isn't a way for someone in the community to bypass Microsoft's account verification or manually unlock a personal Microsoft account. The account-recovery process is designed to protect the data associated with the account, so Microsoft will need to verify ownership before access can be restored.
Hopefully the existing Authenticator access or another signed-in device gives you an additional recovery option. Most importantly, don't give up on the account or create a replacement account yet the OneDrive and Outlook data are associated with the original account.
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hi Budedwards That sounds frustrating, especially when the account contains years of OneDrive photos, Outlook emails, and other important data. Having access to Microsoft Authenticator is helpful, although it doesn't always mean that a password reset can be completed without additional verification.
Since there have already been several unsuccessful login attempts, it would be best to avoid trying more passwords for now, as repeated attempts can result in a longer temporary lockout.
The next step would be to use Microsoft's official account recovery process and provide as much of the requested information as possible. If the automated recovery process doesn't work, contacting Microsoft Support would be the appropriate next step so they can guide you through the available account-recovery options.
One particularly important thing: if the account is still signed in on another PC, phone, Xbox, or browser, don't sign out of it yet. An existing signed-in session may allow you to review your security information, check recent account activity, or secure/back up important OneDrive files.
Since you didn't initiate the password-reset request, also check the account's recent sign-in/security activity for anything you don't recognize. If there are unfamiliar changes, follow Microsoft's security recommendations before making further changes to the account.
Unfortunately, there isn't a way for someone in the community to bypass Microsoft's account verification or manually unlock a personal Microsoft account. The account-recovery process is designed to protect the data associated with the account, so Microsoft will need to verify ownership before access can be restored.
Hopefully the existing Authenticator access or another signed-in device gives you an additional recovery option. Most importantly, don't give up on the account or create a replacement account yet the OneDrive and Outlook data are associated with the original account.