Change your Outlook email address in three steps

You can change the email address associated with your Outlook account directly from the account settings page. The process takes about five minutes and does not require you to create a new account or lose your existing emails and contacts.

Open Outlook.com in your web browser, select the gear icon in the top right corner, then choose View all Outlook settings. Go to the Mail tab, then select Sync email from the left menu. Under Connected accounts, you can add a new email address or remove an old one. Outlook will send a confirmation link to the new address before the change takes effect.

If you use Outlook through a work or school account, your email address is managed by your organization's IT department, and you will not be able to change it yourself through these steps. Contact your workplace IT support instead.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your Outlook email address through account settings, not by creating a new account.
  • Outlook sends a confirmation link to your new email address before the change is complete.
  • Your existing emails, contacts, and calendar remain in your account after you change the address.
  • Work and school accounts cannot be changed by the user — your organization's IT team handles this.
  • The entire process takes about five minutes and can be done from any device with internet access.

What happens to your emails and contacts when you change your address

Your inbox, sent items, contacts, and calendar do not move or disappear when you change your email address. Everything stays in your Outlook account under the new address. People who have your old address in their contacts will still be able to reach you at the new one, because Outlook forwards messages sent to the old address for 30 days after the change.

After 30 days, the forwarding stops. If someone tries to email your old address after that period, the message will bounce back to them. You may want to send a message to your important contacts before making the change, so they have your new address saved in their own contact lists.

The difference between changing your address and adding an alias

An alias is a second email address that points to the same inbox. You can have up to four aliases on a single Outlook account. Messages sent to any of your aliases arrive in the same inbox, and you can send emails from any of them. Aliases are useful if you want to keep both addresses active at the same time.

Changing your primary email address replaces your old one entirely. After the 30-day forwarding period ends, your old address no longer works. Choose an alias if you want to keep using both addresses; choose a primary address change if you want to move completely to a new email.

To add an alias instead of changing your address, go to View all Outlook settings, select the Mail tab, then choose Sync email. Under Your email addresses, select Add alias and enter the new address you want to use.

Confirming your new email address

After you enter your new email address in Outlook settings, Outlook sends a confirmation link to that address. You must click the link within a set time to complete the change. If you do not see the confirmation email, check your spam or junk folder, as it sometimes gets filtered there by mistake.

If the confirmation link expires before you use it, you can request a new one from the same settings page. The new link will be sent to the email address you are trying to add. Do not close the settings page until you have confirmed the address, or you may need to start the process again.

Updating your recovery email and phone number

Your recovery email and phone number are separate from your primary email address. These are backup contact methods Outlook uses to help you regain access if you forget your password or suspect someone else is using your account. You should update these at the same time you change your primary email address.

Go to View all Outlook settings, select the Security tab, then choose Advanced security options. Update your recovery email address and phone number there. Outlook will send a confirmation code to your new recovery email or phone to verify the change.

What to do if you cannot change your address

If the change button is grayed out or you see an error message, your account may be restricted. This sometimes happens if Outlook detects unusual activity or if your account is linked to a Microsoft service like Xbox or OneDrive. Try signing out completely, waiting a few minutes, then signing back in and trying again.

If the problem continues, your account may be locked for security reasons. Go to the Security tab in settings and look for any alerts or warnings. If you see a notice about suspicious activity, follow the steps Outlook provides to verify your identity. Once your account is unlocked, you should be able to change your address.

Changing your address on Outlook desktop and mobile apps

The Outlook desktop process and mobile apps do not have a direct option to change your primary email address. You must make this change through Outlook.com in a web browser. However, once you change your address on the website, the change syncs automatically to all your devices within a few minutes.

If you use Outlook on your phone or computer and want to add an alias, you can do that through the app settings on some versions. On the desktop app, go to File, then Account Settings, then Account Settings again. Look for the option to manage your email addresses. On mobile, open the app menu, select Settings, then find your account and look for email address options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will people still be able to email me at my old address?

Yes, for 30 days after you change your address. Outlook automatically forwards messages sent to your old address to your new one during this period. After 30 days, the forwarding stops and messages sent to the old address will bounce back to the sender.

Can I change my Outlook email address back to what it was before?

Yes. You can change your primary address as many times as you want. Go back to the same settings page and follow the same steps to set a different address as your primary. Keep in mind that each change triggers a new 30-day forwarding period from the old address.

What if I forgot the password to my old email address?

You do not need your old password to change your primary email address. You only need to be signed into your Outlook account. If you are locked out of your account entirely, use your recovery email or phone number to reset your password first, then change your address.

Does changing my email address affect my OneDrive or Microsoft Office files?

No. Your OneDrive, Office documents, and other Microsoft services remain connected to your account. The email address change does not affect access to these services. You may need to sign in again on some devices after the change, but your files and subscriptions stay the same.

Can I use a Gmail address or another email service as my Outlook primary address?

No. Your primary Outlook address must be an @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, or @live.com address. You can add other email addresses as aliases or connected accounts, but your main account address must stay within the Outlook family of domains.