Accounts Change Primary Alias for Microsoft Account

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Microsoft_Account_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to change the primary alias for which email address is shown when you sign in to your Microsoft account.

Email addresses and phone numbers associated with your Microsoft account are called aliases and they use the same contacts, online storage, subscriptions, and account settings.

You can use any of your aliases to sign in to Microsoft services or your Windows and Xbox devices, and you can select any of them for sending and receiving email. Your aliases share a single password. This password is your Microsoft account password.

Your account's primary alias is the email address shown when you sign in on your Microsoft devices (such as a Windows PC, Xbox, or Windows Phone), and you can choose a different alias to be the primary one at any time.

You can also choose which added aliases are allowed to sign in to your Microsoft account without having to remove aliases.

It can take up to 48 hours for your new primary alias to appear on all Microsoft products and services.


References:


EXAMPLE: Email address on Windows 11 sign-in screen for Microsoft account primary alias

sign-in_screen_email_address.jpg



Here's How:

1 Go to the Manage how you sign in to Microsoft page at Microsoft, and sign in to your Microsoft account if not already.

2 Under Account aliases, click/tap on the Make primary link for the email address you want as the primary alias. (see screenshot below)

Microsoft_account_primary_alias-1.png

3 Check or uncheck the I would like information, tips, and offers about Microsoft products and services box for what you want. (see screenshot below step 4)

4 Click/tap on Yes to confirm. (see screenshot below)

Microsoft_account_primary_alias-2.png

5 After a moment, you will see a confirmation your primary alias has been changed. (see screenshot below)

Microsoft_account_primary_alias-3.png


That's it,
Shawn Brink


 
Last edited:
This is something I am considering doing because I'm seeing quite a lot (several a day) unsuccessful attempts to hack into my MS account when I look at the recent sign in page. I have strong passwords but even so...

I plan on using a new alias that will only be used to sign in and nothing else.

Would changing the primary email address affect things like OneDrive?

Also would the name I see here (in settings) automatically change to follow the new primary email or would it remain the same.

Are there any other unforeseen things that might happen? I only have this and another laptop set up with my MS account, nothing else.

Screenshot 2025-02-17 194520.webp
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W11 Pro x64 24H2 Dev
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell 7760 Mobile Precision 17"
    CPU
    Intel i5
    Motherboard
    Unknown
    Memory
    8Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Internal
    Hard Drives
    2 x 256Gb SSD
    PSU
    Dell 240 watt
    Mouse
    Dell Premier Bluetooth
    Internet Speed
    50Mbps
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Default Microsoft Security
This is something I am considering doing because I'm seeing quite a lot (several a day) unsuccessful attempts to hack into my MS account when I look at the recent sign in page. I have strong passwords but even so...

I plan on using a new alias that will only be used to sign in and nothing else.

Would changing the primary email address affect things like OneDrive?

Also would the name I see here (in settings) automatically change to follow the new primary email or would it remain the same.

Are there any other unforeseen things that might happen? I only have this and another laptop set up with my MS account, nothing else.

View attachment 125700

Hello Mooly, :alien:

Aliases are what can be used to sign in to your Microsoft account with on any device.

The "primary" alias is just what is used by default to sign in to your Microsoft account with, but you can still use any alias.

You may also want to use the tutorial below to disable any aliases you don't want to be able to use to sign in to your Microsoft account with.

 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Thank you Shawn, that's great. I'm going to do all that now and keep the new alias just for signing in.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W11 Pro x64 24H2 Dev
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell 7760 Mobile Precision 17"
    CPU
    Intel i5
    Motherboard
    Unknown
    Memory
    8Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Internal
    Hard Drives
    2 x 256Gb SSD
    PSU
    Dell 240 watt
    Mouse
    Dell Premier Bluetooth
    Internet Speed
    50Mbps
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Default Microsoft Security
All seems good, the details I showed in the image above have automatically changed to reflect the new email address. OneDrive is fine. All good. I have disabled the other alias's (I actually never knew you could sign in using those before).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W11 Pro x64 24H2 Dev
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell 7760 Mobile Precision 17"
    CPU
    Intel i5
    Motherboard
    Unknown
    Memory
    8Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Internal
    Hard Drives
    2 x 256Gb SSD
    PSU
    Dell 240 watt
    Mouse
    Dell Premier Bluetooth
    Internet Speed
    50Mbps
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Default Microsoft Security
All seems good, the details I showed in the image above have automatically changed to reflect the new email address. OneDrive is fine. All good. I have disabled the other alias's (I actually never knew you could sign in using those before).

Great news. :party:
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
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