[Windows 11/10] Forgot Microsoft Account Username, Password, or Login PIN

If you've forgotten your Microsoft account email address, or you've logged in and received the error message That Microsoft account does not exist, it is recommended that you follow these steps to help you find your username.

Method 1: Lookup your username if you have security info set up on your account

If you previously set up security info on your Microsoft account, you can use this option to retrieve your username.

Note: This option won't work if you don't have security info set up on your account or if you can no longer access that security info. Move on to the next step: Method 2: Find your Microsoft account username in the product or service you use.

1. Look up your username using your security contact phone number or email address.
2. Request a security code to be sent to the phone number or email you used.
3. Enter the code and select Next.
4. When you see the account you're looking for, select Sign in.        
   If the username lookup wasn't successful, for example you hadn't set up or no longer have access to your security contact information, try Method 2: Find your Microsoft account username in the product or service you use.

Method 2: Find your Microsoft account username in the product or service you use

For the protection of your account, Microsoft has strict policies on how our advocates can help you with your account. Microsoft Support advocates are unable to provide account information without proper validation, but there are places you can look within the products themselves.

Have you ever set up an alternate email address for the account you want to sign in, such as @outlook.com, @gmail.com, or @live.com? If so, try that.

• Windows Devices        
  From your logged-in Windows device, click on the [Start] icon in the taskbar①, then click [Settings]②.      
       
  In the Windows Settings window, click [Accounts]③, then click [Email & accounts]④.      
       
  Below Email & accounts, you'll see the username associated with your device.      
  
• Office Applications        
  Microsoft 365 or Office 2016 and newer versions: Open Office applications like Word or Excel. After opening the Office application, click [File]①.      
       
  Click [Account]②. Under user information, you'll find the username belonging to and associated with your account.      
  

If you still couldn't find your username by checking the products or services above, move on to the next step to determine if your account may be closed.

Method 3: Check if your Microsoft account is closed

You might not be able to sign into your account because it's closed or deleted.

• You closed your account: If you closed your Microsoft account, you have 60 days from that closure to sign in and reopen it. After that 60 days, your account and data expire.
• Your account was closed because of inactivity: If you haven't signed in to your account for a long time, it might expire due to inactivity, according to the following schedule.

If you want to reopen a closed Microsoft account, refer to Microsoft's official support instructions.

If the password you entered is not working or you've forgotten your password, please reset it using the following steps.

Reset Microsoft Account Password

1. Click this link to go to the Microsoft password reset page.
2. Enter your Microsoft account①, such as email, phone, or Skype name, and click [Next]②.     
   
3. For your protection, Microsoft must verify your identity before you can proceed with resetting your password.        
   Choose how you want to receive the verification code③, such as email or text, and click [Get code]④.     
   
4. Microsoft will send a verification code to the email or phone number you selected. Go to the recovery phone or email for where you expect to receive the code. Enter the verification code⑤ and click [Next]⑥.     
   
5. After confirming the verification code, set your new password⑦ and click [Next]⑧.     
   
6. The password reset is complete.     
   

If the password reset fails, try the following methods:

• If you cannot receive a verification code, refer to Microsoft's official support instructions: Troubleshooting verification code issues.
• If you tried to sign in to your account and received a message that it's been locked, it's because activity associated with your account might violate Microsoft’s Terms of Use. Refer to Microsoft's official support instructions: How to unlock your Microsoft account.
• If you have enabled two-step verification        
  After you turn on two-step verification or set up the Authenticator app, you may run into issues if you use apps or older devices (like Windows Phone 8 and Xbox 360) that don't support two-step verification.        
  If you have two-step verification turned on and an app isn't prompting you to enter a security code when you sign in, you may be able to sign in with an app password instead. An app password is a long, randomly generated password that you provide only once instead of your regular password when signing in to an app or device that doesn't support two-step verification.        
  You only need to create an app password if you have two-step verification turned on and are using an app that doesn't support it. For more information, refer to Microsoft's official support instructions: App passwords and two-step verification.