Where to go to sign in to Microsoft

To sign into your Microsoft subscription account, go to account.microsoft.com in your web browser. This is the main login page for all Microsoft accounts — whether you use Outlook email, OneDrive, Microsoft 365, Xbox, or any other Microsoft service tied to your account.

You can also sign in through individual Microsoft services. For example, if you use Microsoft 365 for work or school, you can go directly to office.com and sign in there. If you use OneDrive, you can go to onedrive.live.com. But the central hub for managing your account and subscriptions is always account.microsoft.com.

On a phone or tablet, you can use the Microsoft Account app (available on iOS and Android) or sign in through the web browser the same way you would on a computer.

Key Takeaways

  • The main Microsoft account login page is account.microsoft.com, where you can access all your subscriptions and services in one place.
  • You will need your email address (or phone number) and password to sign in, plus any two-factor authentication method you have set up.
  • If you forget your password, use the "Can't access your account" link on the login page to verify your identity and reset it.
  • Once signed in, you can view your subscription status, payment methods, and renewal dates under the Subscriptions section.
  • If you use Microsoft 365 for work or school, your organization may have set up a different sign-in process that you should follow instead.

What you need to sign in

You will need two pieces of information to sign in: the email address or phone number associated with your Microsoft account, and your password. When you reach the login page, enter your email or phone number first, then click Next. On the next screen, enter your password.

If you have set up two-factor authentication on your account (which adds an extra security step), you will be asked to verify your identity after you enter your password. This might mean entering a code sent to your phone, approving a sign-in request in the Microsoft Authenticator app, or using a security key. This extra step happens automatically — you do not need to do anything special to turn it on if you have already set it up.

If you are signing in on a device you use regularly, you may see a checkbox that says "Don't ask me again on this device" or "Keep me signed in." Checking this box means you will not have to enter your password the next time you visit that page on that same device. Only do this on devices you own and trust.

Resetting your password if you are locked out

If you do not remember your password, click the "Can't access your account" link on the login page. Microsoft will ask you to enter your email address or phone number again, then walk you through steps to prove you own the account.

The verification steps usually involve one of these methods: entering a code sent to your email address, entering a code sent to your phone number, answering security questions you set up earlier, or using a recovery code you saved when you first secured your account. You will need to complete at least one of these to move forward.

After you verify your identity, you will be taken to a page where you can create a new password. Make sure your new password is something you have not used before and that you can remember it. Once you set the new password, you can sign in normally.

Signing in to Microsoft 365 for work or school

If your Microsoft subscription is through your employer or school, the sign-in process may be different. Your organization may require you to sign in through a special portal or use a work email address instead of a personal Microsoft account.

Ask your IT department or school IT support for the correct sign-in page and instructions. Do not assume you can use account.microsoft.com — your organization may have set up a different system. They can tell you the exact web address to use and what credentials to enter.

If you are unsure whether your subscription is personal or through work, check your subscription confirmation email or receipt. It will say whether the account is tied to your organization.

What you can do after you sign in

Once you are signed in to account.microsoft.com, you can see all your Microsoft subscriptions and services in one place. Look for the Subscriptions section in the left menu. There you will see what subscriptions you have, when they renew, and how much you are paying.

You can also update your payment method, change your billing address, view your order history, and turn off automatic renewal if you want to cancel a subscription. If you have multiple subscriptions (for example, Microsoft 365 and Xbox Game Pass), they will all show up in this section.

From your account page, you can also manage your security settings, change your password, add or remove phone numbers and email addresses, and control which apps have permission to access your account.

Troubleshooting common sign-in problems

If you see an error message when you try to sign in, the most common causes are a typo in your email address or password, or your account being temporarily locked for security reasons. Try signing in again and make sure you are typing your credentials correctly. Passwords are case-sensitive, so check that Caps Lock is not on.

If you keep getting an error even after re-entering your information, your account may be locked. Microsoft locks accounts temporarily if it detects unusual sign-in activity. Wait a few minutes and try again, or use the "Can't access your account" link to verify your identity and unlock it.

If you are using a work or school account and cannot sign in, contact your IT department. They can check whether your account is active and reset your password on their end. Do not try to reset it through account.microsoft.com if your account is managed by your organization.

Signing out and staying find

To sign out of your Microsoft account, look for your profile picture or name in the top right corner of account.microsoft.com and click it. A menu will appear with a Sign out option. Click that to end your session.

If you are using a shared computer, always sign out when you are done. This prevents someone else from accessing your account and subscriptions. If you checked the "Keep me signed in" box on a shared device by mistake, go back to account.microsoft.com, sign out, and then sign back in without checking that box.

You can also see where you are signed in across all your devices. Go to account.microsoft.com, click Security in the left menu, then look for Recent activity or Device security. If you see a sign-in from a device you do not recognize, you can sign out of that device remotely from this page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I forgot which email address I used for my Microsoft account?

Go to account.microsoft.com and click "Can't access your account." Microsoft will ask you to enter a phone number or email address you think might be connected to your account. If you enter the right one, you can verify your identity and regain access. If you are not sure, try the phone number or email addresses you use most often.

Can I sign in with a different email address than the one I used to create my account?

No, you must sign in with the email address or phone number associated with your account. However, you can add additional email addresses to your account after you sign in. Go to account.microsoft.com, click Your info, and look for the option to add an email alias. This does not change your sign-in email, but it lets you manage your account from multiple addresses.

Why does Microsoft keep asking me to verify my identity when I sign in?

This happens when you have two-factor authentication turned on, which is a security feature. It requires you to prove you own the account by entering a code or approving a request on another device. If this is annoying, you can turn it off in your security settings, but keeping it on protects your account from unauthorized access.

Can I sign in to multiple Microsoft services at the same time?

Yes. Once you sign in to account.microsoft.com, you are automatically signed in to other Microsoft services like Outlook, OneDrive, and Office.com. You do not have to sign in separately to each one. If you sign out of one service, you will be signed out of all of them.

What should I do if I think someone else signed into my account?

Go to account.microsoft.com, click Security, and look at your recent activity. If you see sign-ins from places or devices you do not recognize, change your password right away using the "Change password" option. You can also sign out of all other devices from this page to end any unauthorized sessions.