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If Microsoft has blocked your Hotmail account after suspicious activity, use the recovery route that matches the message on screen: a temporary Outlook.com block, a locked Microsoft account, or a compromised account each calls for different steps. Hotmail is now Outlook.com, and you sign in with a Microsoft account. Start with Microsoft’s compromised-account guidance if you suspect someone accessed your mailbox.
First, identify which kind of block you have
Read the exact sign-in message before choosing a recovery route. A temporary block after unusual sign-in activity is not necessarily the same as a formally locked account, and a compromised account needs a security cleanup even after you regain access.
| What you see or suspect | What to do |
|---|---|
| Outlook.com says the account is temporarily blocked after unusual sign-in activity | Start with Microsoft’s Sign-in Helper and unblocking guidance. |
| Microsoft says the account is locked | Follow the verification prompt. If the normal prompt is missing, use the reinstatement link beginning with aka.ms shown in the sign-in window. |
| You believe someone got into the mailbox or changed its settings | Scan the device, regain access or reset the password, and check for attacker changes to account and mail settings. |
| You cannot complete ordinary verification | Try the Sign-in Helper, then use the account recovery form if directed. You will need account-specific proof. |
If you suspect your Hotmail account was hacked
- Scan the device before changing the password. Microsoft advises updating antivirus protection and running a full scan to check for viruses or malware before changing a compromised account’s password. Its guidance does not endorse a particular antivirus product.
- Change or reset the password. If you can sign in, change the password. If you cannot, use Microsoft’s recovery route for the sign-in problem.
- Review mailbox and account settings. Check connected accounts, forwarding rules, and automatic replies. An intruder may have changed these settings to keep receiving or sending mail.
- Review recent activity. Open Microsoft’s Recent activity page, mark activity you do not recognize as not yours, and follow the security prompts. The page covers the last 30 days.
If Outlook.com says the account is temporarily blocked
Microsoft says unusual sign-in activity can temporarily block an Outlook.com account. Start with the Sign-in Helper. If entering a security code or changing the password does not unblock the account, continue with Microsoft’s broader sign-in recovery guidance.
If the specific problem is that you cannot send or receive messages, check whether your Outlook.com mailbox or OneDrive storage is full. A full storage quota is a separate problem from a hacked or blocked account.
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If Microsoft says your account is locked
Try signing in at Microsoft’s account site and complete the verification step shown. If the expected “prove you’re human” prompt does not appear, Microsoft says the account may have been locked because of suspicious activity or a Terms of Use issue. Follow the reinstatement link that begins with aka.ms in the sign-in window.
Microsoft says an Online Safety support agent reviews the reinstatement submission and contacts you by email. Do not send duplicate requests; Microsoft warns that duplicates may slow the response.
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If verification fails, use account recovery
Try the Sign-in Helper before submitting the recovery form. Microsoft’s account recovery instructions explain the process. Prepare an email address you can access so Microsoft can send its decision, and gather details that help establish ownership.
- For Hotmail or Outlook.com, Microsoft may ask for contacts and exact email subject lines. Friends or family who exchanged messages with you may help recall contacts.
- Complete the form from a device you previously used to sign in and a familiar location, if possible.
- Answer as thoroughly and accurately as you can. Microsoft says it will email the result within 24 hours. If it cannot verify the account, its guidance allows up to two recovery-form attempts per day.
When two-step verification blocks recovery
If two-step verification is enabled and you cannot access any alternate verification method, Microsoft says its support agents cannot send a password-reset link or change the account details. Support cannot bypass that missing proof. If you previously generated a recovery code, use Microsoft’s recovery-code instructions; Microsoft describes the code as 25 digits.
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After you get back in, protect the account
Review your security information and make sure the recovery options are still yours. Microsoft supports verification methods such as authenticator apps and passkeys. If you generate a recovery code, store it somewhere safe and separate from the device you use to sign in. If you replace all security information, Microsoft says the account can be restricted for a 30-day pending period.
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