Different email for sign in to view login history?


Ultrarunner22

Active member
Local time
11:34 AM
Posts
25
OS
Dual-Boot Windows 11 / Ubuntu 20.04.3
I have both Windows 11 and 10 on my machine, although I've been running 11 exclusively for several months now.
I purchased a sub for MS 365 personal several days ago, and happened to notice that there was a 2nd device with a strange name (not the name I used for the system) listed in my devices.
My first step was to Google the cause, and was led to check my sign-in activity.
When I tried to log into sigh in history (from security) I was asked to verify that it was me who was attempting to access this info, even though I was already logged into my primary MS account.
I entered the same email I use for my MS account, but the verification code never arrived in that email box. I checked spam, but nothing. I am using gmail from my browser (Firefox).
I noted that the email hint had the first 2 characters of my email, plus the domain (gmail.com), but I have two email accounts that have the same first two characters.
This morning, I tried the other email, and the verification code arrived in that email.
What has me mystified is why MS still has this older email account, long after I switched it. I looked everywhere in my MS account info but could not find that email address.
I logged into Windows 10 to see whether I was still using it on that OS, but I only found the same info I had seen from Windows 11.

So far as the strange device name, I think it could possibly have been the default used when I installed either Windows 10 or 11. I do know that it is likely I used the old email to create my MS account, but that was several years ago.

Any thoughts?
Thanks for your help
Ultrarunner
 
Windows Build/Version
Windows 11 Pro, Ver 22H2, OS build 22623.1325

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Dual-Boot Windows 11 / Ubuntu 20.04.3
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
    Motherboard
    Asus Tuf Gaming X570 Plus WiFi
    Memory
    32GB DDR4 @ 3200MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 Super Windforce OC 3X 8G
    Sound Card
    OBD: Realtek S 1200A, USB: Behringer UMC202HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Main: Asus Tuf Gaming VG27AQL1A, #2: NEC EA244WMi, #3: Samsung 2494HS
    Screen Resolution
    2560 X 1440 @ 144Hz
    Hard Drives
    2ea WD Blue SN550 NVMe M.2 1TB SSD
    PSU
    Seasonic Focus GM-750
    Case
    Fractal Designs Meshify C (no glass)
    Cooling
    CPU: AMD Ryzen stock cooler, Case: 2x 140mm front, 1x 120mm rear, 1x 120mm top
    Keyboard
    Glorious GMMK with Pudding Keycaps
    Mouse
    UtechSmart Venus MMO Gaming mouse
    Internet Speed
    100Mb/s
    Browser
    Firefox ver 93.0 64-bit
    Antivirus
    ESET Internet Security Suite
Use of a secondary email address in that situation is to be expected. It should be listed on the "Your info" tab.

Security info confirms your identity
Security info is an alternate contact email address or phone number that you add to your account. If you forget your password, or if someone else is trying to take over your account, we send a verification code to that alternate email or phone number. When you give the code back to us, we know that you’re really you so we can help get you back into your Microsoft account.

We use your security info only to verify your identity if you're accessing personal information or if we detect a problem with your account.

Microsoft account security info & verification codes


Did Sign-in activity list the correct location of your computers?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
Yes, it did. That's why I'm not really concerned.
What I am perplexed about though, is that MS still has my old email in their database, yet I don't see it anywhere where I can change/delete it.
Perhaps that old PC goes back a lot further than I thought; like before my new build, which was in 2020. I had Win 10 on the old machine, but now have only Ubuntu.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Dual-Boot Windows 11 / Ubuntu 20.04.3
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
    Motherboard
    Asus Tuf Gaming X570 Plus WiFi
    Memory
    32GB DDR4 @ 3200MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 Super Windforce OC 3X 8G
    Sound Card
    OBD: Realtek S 1200A, USB: Behringer UMC202HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Main: Asus Tuf Gaming VG27AQL1A, #2: NEC EA244WMi, #3: Samsung 2494HS
    Screen Resolution
    2560 X 1440 @ 144Hz
    Hard Drives
    2ea WD Blue SN550 NVMe M.2 1TB SSD
    PSU
    Seasonic Focus GM-750
    Case
    Fractal Designs Meshify C (no glass)
    Cooling
    CPU: AMD Ryzen stock cooler, Case: 2x 140mm front, 1x 120mm rear, 1x 120mm top
    Keyboard
    Glorious GMMK with Pudding Keycaps
    Mouse
    UtechSmart Venus MMO Gaming mouse
    Internet Speed
    100Mb/s
    Browser
    Firefox ver 93.0 64-bit
    Antivirus
    ESET Internet Security Suite
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