Guidance notes for the Microsoft account recovery form

Form field name

Guidance notes

Microsoft account you're trying to recover

This is the email address of your Microsoft personal account.

If you have forgotten your email address, read Forgotten your Microsoft account username. 

You can also use any of your alternative account aliases, but do not list an email you use to sign in if it is not yours.

First & Last name

Provide the names used with your Microsoft account, for example.

Use the same naming style, for example: "Alex" or "Alexander".

Preferred contact email

Make sure you provide an alternative email address so we can contact you.

Check your Junk or Spam folders for our reply.

Birthdate

Please enter your date of birth using the USA date format of MM/DD/YYYY.

If you are under the legal age of consent in your country or region, please provide your parent or guardian email in the Preferred contact email.

Country or region where the account was created

Let us know where you created the account. For example, United States or USA. If you're not sure, give your current location.

When did you last change your password?

Tell us when you last changed your Microsoft account password.

If you're not sure, try searching your email for "Microsoft account password" and see when you last received notification. 

If you can't find an email, but have a rough idea, enter an approximate date (using the same USA date format of MM/DD/YYYY).

If you've never changed your password, leave this blank.

Gamertag

Your Gamertag is the Xbox profile name associated with your account. Go to Xbox support for more help on how to find your Gamertag.

If you don't have one, leave this blank.

Device

This is the unique ID of your Xbox console or PC linked to your account. You can usually find it in your device settings or system info.

You can find the Xbox Console ID by going to Settings > System > Console info and make a note of the Xbox network device ID.

You can find your PC Device ID on a Windows device by going to Settings > Privacy & security > Diagnostics & feedback > View diagnostic data > Open Diagnostic Data Viewer. Search for "xbl" to find the Device ID labelled "did.
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Open Settings

Alternate emails or phone numbers associated with the account

List any of your alternative account aliases, including any email or phone number you use to sign in with - even if it is not yours.

Provide as many details as possible about your issue

This is where you should provide proof of your identity. Do not give a reason why you should have access, but give us more information that can help us determine that you are the real account holder.

Other than information directly relating to your account, do not provide any sensitive personal information. For example, only provide the last 4 digits of a credit card used to buy a Microsoft subscription, rather than the full number.

Submit

If applicable, select I agree to allow us to process your data, and then wait for our response.