This is my last resort as Microsoft has recommended that I use this forum to help retrieve my Hotmail account. I have physically called Microsoft 3 times with different answers and visited the Microsoft Store, only to tell me that I have to retrieve it online using their the verification form. The problem is the form itself. The security question is one that I did not set up AND the phone number attached to it is no longer in use. There is no other 'email' attached to it because it was at one time my primary email. Since the force migration to Outlook from Hotmail, it has been difficult. I do work in the technology industry and I am aware of protocol and procedures. I have tried just about everything before calling the service center.

Here is the situation:
I have had this Hotmail account for well over a decade. I no longer use it an email account to send email, but use it as a repository for my digital receipts from online vendors and iTunes. I have multiple computers, so a I access this account from various computers from work and from home. With the recent force migration, I am assuming that Microsoft is IP tracking the access to the account. This would account for the 'We want to verify that this [YOU] ...].
I went through the process of the online form to retrieve my account to verify that I am the owner.

The problem is:
  • The phone number on the account is no longer in service my me to send the retrieval 'code', even though I have updated it with a new phone number
  • I have moved several times so I don't remember which address was used to set it up
  • I do not have any other email attached since it was at one time my primary email account
  • The security question is not on that I set up, nor would it ever be a question that I use
  • I cannot verify recent emails that I have sent since I have not sent mail from that account in years
  • I cannot verify recent contact since I have not sent any emails from there

I can however:

  • Change my password to the account. I now have new password with the account. A verification code was sent to the new phone number that is attached to the account that is locked when it was updated. In the 'change password' form, it has a the old phone number and the updated phone number. In the 'verify account' form, it only has the old phone number.

This is where the frustration begins. How can my account allow me to change my password, but not allow to me verify my account!? The two forms are not in sync with my updated contact information!


I have secondary Hotmail account, which at one time was linked to this primary account.


Fortunately, I can verify the contents of the locked email account since the last sync to my Outlook program prior to Hotmail locking me out.

  • I can verify my new password
  • I can verify my new phone number
  • I can verify specific Emails that were sent to me prior the lock out, specifically iTunes receipts or anything else along with contents of the email.
  • I can verify my secondary Hotmail account once linked

Any help is greatly appreciated.


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