Your Microsoft account

Solve any sign-in problem, recover lost messages and contacts, and restore blocked or closed accounts

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Many things can stop you logging into your Microsoft account. The most obvious is that you’re using the wrong username or password, though you might be convinced that you’re not. Check that Caps Lock isn’t enabled, but don’t forget Num Lock too, as this can also cause incorrect input – particularly on laptops, as yours might have an ‘embedded’ numeric pad. Microsoft obscures typed passwords with dots, so open Notepad to check your keyboard is correctly typing what you’re inputting. You can even copy your confirmed details from Notepad using Control (Ctrl)+C and then paste it into the username or password field with Ctrl+V. Finally, check that the relevant Microsoft service is working. For instance, Outlook.com (née Hotmail) has a service-status page at www.snipca.com/17597 – so use this to discover if the problem is at Microsoft’s end. If all else fails, read the next tip.

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