Changing Microsoft Account alias broke Minecraft authentication?

pj.......... · Jul 2, 2022

What worked: Using the Win7/8 Minecraft Launcher instead of the Win10 Minecraft Launcher and logging in again with my Microsoft account. It seems kinda kludgey/workaroundy and I'm worried that there may be problems in the future if the old launcher is sunset.

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I migrated my Mojang account into my Microsoft account months ago, with no issues logging in or playing. More recently, I changed the alias on my Microsoft account from an old email address to my current email address. It seems like this may have broken my Minecraft authentication. What should I do here so I can log back into Minecraft?

Symptoms:

The Minecraft launcher has a bar at the bottom saying "Oh no! Something went wrong, and we couldn't connect to the Minecraft services. Try again." The Try again link does not do anything for me.

My username and "Microsoft account" appears in the upper left of the Minecraft Launcher window, but there is a broken image instead of my profile picture

On the Accounts tab of the Settings screen in the Minecraft Launcher, my Minecraft username displays under the Microsoft header, with an Active status tag. Below that, there is a button that says "No Network Connection." Clicking that button displays a red banner in the upper right saying that the launcher is offline and to check my internet connection and try again. My internet connection is fine; I'm making this post from the same device.

Things I've tried:

Resetting my router

Restarting my computer

Checking Windows Firewall settings

Disabling IPv6 and forcing my computer to use IPv4

Checking to make sure I'm logged in properly in the Microsoft Store, and resetting the Microsoft Store app

Logging out of my Microsoft account within the Minecraft Launcher and signing in again

Re-adding the old alias to my Microsoft account - I can't because it's a .edu email address, which can't be added to a personal Microsoft account. This account was originally a personal Microsoft account spun out from my school Microsoft account.

Repairing/resetting/reinstalling the Minecraft Launcher

:)

pj..........

I think I've always downloaded my Minecraft launcher from Minecraft.net rather than from the Microsoft Store.

Nathan Roberts (SN)

Hey there, pj..........

I have noticed that you have edited your question to reflect that you have managed to work around this by installing the Minecraft launcher for Windows 7 & 8.1 instead of the Windows 10/11 one.

Wondering, however, if you installed the one from the Microsoft store here: https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9PGW18NPBZV5

Or if it was the one from the website here: Download Minecraft | Minecraft

Nathan

pj..........

I have tried that and the replies I got were not very helpful. They were from "Minecraft Gamers" rather than from actual support staff, and it didn't seem like they actually read and understood my question.

I got instructions about migration. Migration isn't the problem; I migrated months ago and had no trouble playing after migrating. The problem seems to be that I changed my Microsoft alias. I still have access to the Microsoft account; it's how I'm logged in on my PC right now. I'm also logged in with that same account on Minecraft.net and it shows that I own Minecraft on the "My Games" page. However, the Minecraft Launcher doesn't seem to recognize that same account.

Nathan Roberts (SN)

Hey there, pj..........

Welcome to the Microsoft community.

As this looks to be an issue with your licence and account for Minecraft, please reach out, and submit a support request, to Mojang Support here: Submit a Request | Mojang Support (minecraft.net)

This way, the right folk can look into this issue and help you with your problem.

Hope this helps,

Nathan

lunazm00n

I found that there is an issue with Microsoft Account and the Security Auditing Policy on my local machine when authenticating to Xbox Live & Minecraft.

Example:

My MS Account was originally @gmail.com

I changed my primary alias to @outlook.com

This throws a security audit exception when authenticating to Xbox Live with Minecraft.

In short... Xbox tries to verify @outlook.com, OS expects @gmail. Minecraft dies.

Solution:

Move my primary alias back to what Windows 10 was expecting (@gmail). Problem solved.

You can verify this by looking in your Event Viewer after Minecraft Crashes. Then look in the Security Audit logs to see what user name its trying to match up against.

wait what if you changed your primary alias from gmail.com to gmail.com?

Changing Microsoft Account alias broke Minecraft authentication?