Article ID: 2430020 - Last Review: January 26, 2012 - Revision: 2.0

How to change the Windows Live ID on your Windows Phone

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SUMMARY

Your Windows Live ID is used to access features such as Marketplace, Xbox LIVE, and the Zune Music Pass on your Windows Phone.

To change the Windows Live ID that you use to access these features, you have to reset your phone to its original factory settings. However, you can remove any other email account, including additional Windows Live accounts, without resetting your phone.

Important A reset deletes all of your personal content on the phone. This includes purchased and downloaded apps, text messages, ringtones, saved games, contact groups, and any pictures, music, or videos. Much of this content will be lost and un-restorable, except for media files. Also, after a phone reset, you may be unable to transfer previously purchased content to a different Windows Live ID. 

To learn more about resetting your phone, read the following article from Microsoft Support:

KB 2606900 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2606900#reset) When to update, restart, reset, or restore your Windows Phone.



To change your Windows Live ID follow these steps

1. Locate your primary Windows Live ID:
  1. On Start, flick left to the App list, tap Settings
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    , and then tap Email+accounts.
  2. Look for the first email account in the list that is named “Windows Live.”
    Tip If you renamed your primary Windows Live account to something other than “Windows Live,” look for the first account listed with the Windows logo 
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    next to it.

2. Change the Windows Live ID for your phone:

  1. On Start, flick left to the App list, tap Settings
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    , and then tap About.
  2. Tap Reset your phone, and then follow the instructions to complete the reset of your phone.
  3. After your phone is reset, you can sign in with a Windows Live ID of your choice. This will be the primary Windows Live ID you use to access Marketplace, Xbox LIVE, and the Zune Music Pass on your Windows Phone.

MORE INFORMATION

To learn more about Windows Live ID on your Windows Phone, see the following Help and how-to articles:

To learn more about resetting your phone, read the following article from Microsoft Support:

  • KB 2606900 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2606900 ) When to update, restart, reset, or restore your Windows Phone.



APPLIES TO
  • Windows Phone Consumer
  • Windows Phone Services
Keywords: 
kbwp7oobe kbwp7 KB2430020