Computer problem

[Gathursty]

I got an email recently to pay for another year of my Microsoft 365 subscription.
Since I last did it, I've a new bank card and a new phone number. I also have long since forgotten my hotmail password as I just click a button and my Outlook opens automatically.

My question is if I can't give Microsoft any of my details because they aren't valid anymore, but I need access to my primary email account and Word/PowerPoint etc..., what do I do?

 

[221101 Voyager]

I got an email recently to pay for another year of my Microsoft 365 subscription.
Since I last did it, I've a new bank card and a new phone number. I also have long since forgotten my hotmail password as I just click a button and my Outlook opens automatically.

My question is if I can't give Microsoft any of my details because they aren't valid anymore, but I need access to my primary email account and Word/PowerPoint etc..., what do I do?

Hi, I do IT at college and will try and offer some assistance.

Just so you know, Hotmail has been superseeded by Outlook so the Hotmail site isn't a thing anymore.

If you can access outlook that is a good start.

Can you attach a screenshot as to what your outlook looks like (blank out your details), then I can assess and tell you some next steps.

Are you using the online Outlook in a browser or are you using the desktop version? That will also help me to suggest next steps.

 

[Gathursty]

I have a Hotmail.co.uk email address and it's a desktop version of Outlook I use. I'll take a screenshot asap.

 

[221101 Voyager]

I have a Hotmail.co.uk email address and it's a desktop version of Outlook I use. I'll take a screenshot asap.

I'm going to eat dinner and then I'll be back to assist, I'll be about 30 mins.

 

[Gathursty]

Here's a picture of my Outlook. Any thing I click on takes me to a Microsoft sign in page and then I get stuck because I don't know my password etc... and I can't afford to be locked out of my main email account.

 

[221101 Voyager]

Here's a picture of my Outlook. Any thing I click on takes me to a Microsoft sign in page and then I get stuck because I don't know my password etc... and I can't afford to be locked out of my main email account.

Ah, I see you using your hotmail account via Windows Mail. That changes things. The dedicated Outlook app included with 365 is different.

What I can suggest is if you go to 365 online.


Go to google and type in Office 365 and click on this;





The click on the person icon that is circled and show me what you see on your screen.



Then we'll go from there.

A handy tip for screenshots is to Press the windows, shift and s keys at the same time, then you can drag across over the area you want to screenshot and then just right click and click paste in the forum box and it will appear.

 

[najaB]

Go to google and type in Office 365 and click on this

I suspect that's not likely to be of use as it would appear that we're discussing a consumer rather than business subscription, which is what you have directed him to (the clue being in the name Office 365).

@Gathursty can you confirm if this is a business subscription?

 

[221101 Voyager]

That's not likely to be of use as @Gathursty would appear to have a Consumer rather than Business subscription which is what you have directed him to (the clue being in the name Office 365).

You can still use this option to get into a personal account.

 

[Gathursty]

The person is blank. I just click through to this page.

 

[najaB]

You can still use this option to get into a personal account.

Indeed. A personal account on the business platform - the Office 365 and Outlook.com login systems are distinct.

 

[221101 Voyager]

View attachment 85176
The person is blank. I just click through to this page.

Then click on can't access your account and then click on personal account.

 

[mbonwick]

The solution is quite simple - you click on the "Forgot password" link at the sign in page (or if it's the one shown above, "Can't access your account?") and fill in the details. This will then send you an email (either to an alternative email address, or via a text message if you have given them your number) with a link to reset your password.

You'll then need to change/update it in Windows Mail but you'll not lose access to the account.

 

[221101 Voyager]

The solution is quite simple - you click on the "Forgot password" link at the sign in page (or if it's the one shown above, "Can't access your account?") and fill in the details. This will then send you an email (either to an alternative email address, or via a text message if you have given them your number) with a link to reset your password.

You'll then need to change/update it in Windows Mail but you'll not lose access to the account.

It's what I'm getting to, I don't want to overwhelm the user by throwing a barrage of instructions at them at once, I don't know their technical abillity so I'm doing step by step. Have a little patience.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Oct 2020 ==

View attachment 85176
The person is blank. I just click through to this page.

If you have anymore issues during this process feel free to ask me.

 

[Gathursty]

After I put my email address in, it said something about Windows Hello which is my pin to unlock my laptop so that allowed me in instead of panicking about my lack of password, outdate phone number and bank details. I've updated my bank card and phone number which is a weight off my mind.

Thanks though as I just didn't even want to click on the website out of fear of permanently locking myself out.

 

[221101 Voyager]

After I put my email address in, it said something about Windows Hello which is my pin to unlock my laptop so that allowed me in instead of panicking about my lack of password, outdate phone number and bank details. I've updated my bank card and phone number which is a weight off my mind.

Thanks though as I just didn't even want to click on the website out of fear of permanently locking myself out.

No problem, very happy to help! Update your password too. Because you never know you may need it!

 

[Gathursty]

No problem, very happy to help! Update your password too. Because you never know you may need it!

Will definitely do! I don't think I've changed my password since I first got it in high school but if I don't know it, no-one else will

 

[221101 Voyager]

Will definitely do! I don't think I've changed my password since I first got it in high school but if I don't know it, no-one else will

The reason I say to change it was so that one you of course will know what it is. Also, it'll mean easier access should you need to change or update any details in the future. As mentioned by someone else, you may have enter your new password on the Windows mail app to continue getting access to your emails.

 

[najaB]

I don't think I've changed my password since I first got it in high school but if I don't know it, no-one else will

If only that was true. If it's not a 'throwaway' email address then you should change the password every now and again (you don't need to overboard with it), or enable two-factor authentication.