Why you need a Microsoft account, or work or school account with ...
What is a Microsoft account. A Microsoft account is a free account you use to access many Microsoft devices and services, such as the web-based email service Outlook.com (also known as hotmail.com, msn.com, live.com), online apps like Word or Excel for the web, Skype, OneDrive, Xbox Live, Bing, Windows, or the Microsoft Store.
Applies To:
Office 2016, Office 2013
What is a Microsoft account? - Microsoft Support
What is a Microsoft account used for? You need a Microsoft account to sign in to your Windows pc, Xbox console, or any of Microsoft’s products and services, including Office, Outlook.com, OneDrive, Xbox Live, Microsoft 365, Family Safety, Skype, Bing, Microsoft Store and MSN.
Applies To:
Microsoft account dashboard
Manage your Microsoft 365 subscription or Office product
Your account page is on Office.com. After you sign in, click the arrow next to your name, and then click My Account.
Applies To:
Excel for Microsoft 365, Word for Microsoft 365, Outlook for Microsoft 365, PowerPoint for Microsoft 365, Access for Microsoft 365, OneNote for Microsoft 365, Publisher for Microsoft 365, Visio Plan 2, Excel for Microsoft 365 for Mac, Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac, Outlook for Microsoft 365 for Mac, PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 for Mac, OneNote for Microsoft 365 for Mac, Word for the web, OneNote for the web, PowerPoint for the web, Excel 2021, Word 2021, Outlook 2021, Access 2021, Project Professional 2021, Project Standard 2021, Publisher 2021, Visio Professional 2021, Visio Standard 2021, Office 2021, OneNote 2021, Excel 2021 for Mac, Word 2021 for Mac, Outlook 2021 for Mac, OneNote 2021 for Mac, Office 2021 for Mac, Excel 2019, Word 2019, Outlook 2019, PowerPoint 2019, Access 2019, Project Professional 2019, Project Standard 2019, Publisher 2019, Visio Professional 2019, Visio Standard 2019, Office 2019, Excel 2019 for Mac, Word 2019 for Mac, Outlook 2019 for Mac, PowerPoint 2019 for Mac, OneNote 2019 for Mac, Office 2019 for Mac, Excel 2016, Word 2016, Outlook 2016, PowerPoint 2016, Access 2016, OneNote 2016, Project Professional 2016, Project Standard 2016, Publisher 2016, Visio Professional 2016, Visio Standard 2016, Office 2016, Microsoft 365 admin, Outlook on the web, Word Web App, Microsoft account dashboard, New Outlook for Windows
Get help with your Microsoft account - Microsoft Support
Your Microsoft account. Your personal account dashboard is the place to: Update your password and personal information.
Applies To:
Microsoft account dashboard
What is a Microsoft Exchange account? - Microsoft Support
A Microsoft Exchange account is a work or school email account. The organization that gave you the Exchange email account is running a Microsoft Exchange Server, or is using Microsoft 365 which uses Exchange Server to provide email.
Applies To:
Outlook for Microsoft 365, Outlook for Microsoft 365 for Mac, Outlook 2021, Outlook 2021 for Mac, Outlook 2019, Outlook 2019 for Mac, Outlook 2016, Outlook 2013, Outlook Web App for Office 365, Outlook Web App
What is the Recent activity page? - Microsoft Support
Session type. What it means. Account created. A Microsoft account was created. Account name changed. The name that identifies you in Microsoft products and services has changed.
Applies To:
Microsoft account dashboard
Reset a forgotten Microsoft account password
Notes: If you know your password, but just want to change it, go to account.microsoft.com Security tab, and select Change my password. If you know your username and password but they have stopped working, read My username and password have stopped working.
Applies To:
Microsoft account dashboard
Finding your BitLocker recovery key in Windows - Microsoft Support
BitLocker is the Windows encryption technology that protects your data from unauthorized access by encrypting your drive and requiring one or more factors of authentication before it will unlock it.
Account has been locked - Microsoft Support
Why accounts are locked and disabled. Microsoft accounts are usually locked if the account holder has violated our Microsoft Services Agreement.Here are some common reasons why accounts are locked, though not all account locks occur for these reasons:
How to use two-step verification with your Microsoft account
Important: If you turn on two-step verification, you will always need two forms of identification.This means that if you forget your password, you need two contact methods. Or if you lose your contact method, your password alone won't get you back into your account—and it can take you 30 days to regain access.