How to change an email address that's dead

Hi Aileen

Thanks for the reply and suggestions. I cannot sign in to the defunct email account as it cannot be verified. I can alter the other account with a working email but it won't let me access the other one to alter the email there. I have tried several times to use the recovery method but it keeps being rejected as not enough info even tho I answer nearly all the questions put to me (except postcode) which no one else could know and have provided the email for my other account.

Can I link this one to the existing online profile or maybe delete the dead email account without losing saved games and data? I believe there is this option on the console. This account however holds most of the saved games as I play mostly offline. I want to add dlc but can only do this for the online profile and would have to start again.

Thanks for your input and help

Hi James,

Thanks for the update and for explaining the situation clearly.

To address your core questions, unfortunately, Xbox profiles are not mergeable, and you cannot change the sign-in email on a Microsoft account unless you can access it to verify the change. Here's how you can move forward depending on your priority: keeping saved games, accessing DLC, or trying to recover the old account.

1. Recovery Is Still Your Best Option

Even if your previous attempts failed, you should retry Microsoft’s Account Recovery Form, making sure to:

Fill it out from a device and location you've used the account on

Include as many accurate details as possible (old passwords, folder names, Xbox console ID, services used, billing info if applicable)

Provide an alternate working email for contact

Use this official link: https://account.live.com/acsr

If the form fails again, click “I don’t have any of these” at the login screen and request direct contact with Microsoft support. They may escalate your case if you have enough proof of ownership.

2. Try Home Xbox to Share Content

Since the old profile still works on your Xbox locally, you can use the Home Xbox feature to let your new profile access games and DLC:

Sign in to the old profile

Go to Settings > General > Personalization > My Home Xbox

Select Make this my home Xbox

Your new profile can then access content installed by the old one, including many add-ons. However, some content (like DLC and cloud saves) may still need the original profile signed in while playing.

3. You Cannot Link or Transfer Profiles

Just to confirm the limits:

You cannot link your new Microsoft account to the old profile

You cannot transfer saves, game licenses, or achievements between accounts

You cannot change the sign-in email on the old profile unless you regain full access

4. Local Saves Will Stay on the Console

If you continue to play on the old profile offline, your saved data will remain as long as the account isn’t deleted from the console. However, to purchase DLC or access cloud saves, that account must be online and verified.

5. Consider Migrating to the New Account

If recovery doesn’t work and you want future flexibility:

Make the new account your primary

Use cloud saves to protect progress going forward

Avoid reusing inaccessible emails and always link a phone number and a secondary email to recover access if needed

Let me know if you want help trying the recovery steps again or setting up your console for shared access between accounts.

Hi James! I’m Aileen, an Xbox Expert and gamer. I’m here to help as best I can.

If you can’t access the email tied to your Xbox profile and you're stuck in verification loops, here’s what you can try:

1. Try signing in on your Xbox console (if still signed in):

Go to Settings > Account > Sign-in, security & passkey

If you’re still signed in, you can manage your account directly from there

2. Add a new alias (if you’re in):

From your console or browser, go to: https://account.microsoft.com/profile

Select “Edit account info” and add a new email alias

Once added and verified, set it as Primary

Then, remove the dead email (optional)

3. If you’re locked out completely:

Use this page to recover the account:

https://account.live.com/acsr

Fill in as much detail as you can (gamertag, old passwords, etc)

The more correct info, the better chance of recovery

If that doesn’t work, there’s no way to access the account without successful verification — Microsoft support can’t bypass that for security reasons.

Please let me know if you need any further assistance. Looking forward to your response.

Hey there Butter, You must wait at least 30 days from the creation of a new account, or if you changed your Microsoft account within that 30 day timeframe.



I hope this helps!

Um... I guess you are not big on details... Click "My Account" at the top of the screen or go to "Account Management" on your console. From either of these two locations it should be simple to update your email.