What happens if there's an unusual sign-in to your account (2024)

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Microsoft prioritizesaccount security and works topreventpeople fromsigning in without your permission. When we noticea sign-in attempt from anew location or device, we help protect the account bysending you an email messageand an SMSalert. If your phone number or email changes, it's important to promptly update the security contact info on the Security basics page so we can work with you to keep your account secure and active.

Ifyou sign in to your account while travelingor if you install a new app thatsigns in with your account, you may get an alert. We just need you to provide a security code so we know it was you, and that your account is safe.

To learn what you can do about unusual activity, select one of the following headings. It'll open to show more info.

If there was an unusual sign-in attempt for your account,you'll get an email or text message. We'll send a message to allyour alternate contact methods. To help protect your account, we'll need you to provide a security code from one of thesecontacts. Thisstep prevents people who aren't you from signing in and lets us know if it was just you signing in from an unusual location or device.

If you aren't sure about the source of an email, check the sender. You'll know it's legitimate ifit's from the Microsoft account team at account-security-noreply@accountprotection.microsoft.com.

We may have blocked your sign-in if you're using a new device, if you installed a new app, or if you're traveling orin any new location. This security measure helps keep your account safe in case someone else gets your account information and tries to sign in as you. To unlock your account, follow the instructions on the sign-in screen and select where we can send you a security code. After you've received the code, enter it to access your account.

Notes:

If you’re traveling and can’t access the email or phone that you've associated with your account, there aresome other options:
If these options aren't available, you'll be able to get back in to your account after you sign in from a trusted device or from a usual location.

If you brought a device you normally sign in toand you've set it as a trusted device, you can sign in from that device and get back into your account.
If you left your phone at home and know someone who has access to it, you can ask them to tell you the security code sent to the device.

If you received an email or text alerting you to an unusual sign-in attempt on your accountbut you haven't done anything different with your account recently, follow these steps to review your account security:

Sign in to theSecurity basics page for your Microsoft account.
Select Review activity to check for any unusual sign-in attempts on the Recent activity page. If you see account activity that you're sure wasn't yours, let us know and we can help secure your account—if it'sin the Unusual activity section, you can expand the activity and select This wasn't me. If it's in the Recent activity section, you can expand the activity and select Secure your account.
If you think someone else may have accessed your account, go back to the Security basics page and select Change password. Create a strong password that you can remember, and don't share it with anybody else.

If you tried to sign in to your account but can't, someone may have changed your password. Follow these steps to get back into your account:

Try to reset your password with the instructions listed in When you can't sign in to your Microsoft account. Starting with this step saves you extra effort if you accidentally signed in with a different account than the alert was for.
If that doesn't work, try to sign in to your account again. Select Forgot my password on the sign-in page, and then selectI think someone else is using my Microsoft account. Follow the instructions to recover your account.

Notes:

If you're having problems signing into Windows or your Microsoft account, see When you can't sign into your Microsoft account for more info.
If you're looking for more info about how to improve security for your Microsoft account, see How to keep your Microsoft account safe and secure.
If you received an unusual activity notice while sending email in Outlook, see Unblock my Outlook.com account for more info.