Which account do I close to continue with my current services?

WillDutcher · Apr 21, 2022

I have one Microsoft account affiliated with one particular email address (let's call it EMAIL_ADDRESS_MICROSOFT)

I have another XBOX-turned-Microsoft account affiliated with a different email address (let's call that EMAIL_ADDRESS_XBOX)

Here's my problem:

EMAIL_ADDRESS_MICROSOFT has my Microsoft 365 subscription, and is the account I use to log on to this version of Windows. It ALSO has a now-defunct and not-used XBOX account.

however

EMAIL_ADDRESS_XBOX has my XBOX account that I've had since the mid-2000s, and has all my game purchase history, achievements, etc. that I want to keep.

Here is my problem. I have XBOX Game Pass and every time I log in, it wants to (obviously) default to my EMAIL_ADDRESS_MICROSOFT because that's the default account and the one associated with Windows. However, being that all my stuff, to include my GamePass on PC subscription is on the other account, I must always go to Log Out -> Log In -> Log in with EMAIL_ADDRESS_XBOX and then it will let me play Game Pass on PC, as normal. This is not ideal as I frequently need to do this, multiple times per day, even.

What I can NOT do is log in to my Microsoft Account -> Your Info -> Edit account info -> Add Email -> Add an existing email address as a Microsoft account alias

That would, of course, be the ideal solution, however, given that the email I want to add is already affiliated with the other account, it tells me "This email address is already taken. Please try another." --Not helpful

What I want to do is effectively deactivate one of the accounts and push all my information over to the other. I know you can't merge accounts after googling around a bit. I hesitate to kill an account though because I don't want to lose all my data. What is the recommendation--from a Microsoft certified person, e.g. the official response from a Microsoft Employee--on how to mitigate this issue?

Please read the question in its entirety. I've read responses where the 'help' offered was nowhere near what was asked. Please offer a real, viable solution rather than a canned response. I assure you that my responses will not be canned.

:)

Lucas Lauer

Hello, WILLDUTCHER. Thanks for reaching out. I'm Lucas, an Independent Advisor and Microsoft expert user. I don't work for Microsoft neither I have access to user's accounts.

I read your whole question and understood what you want to do. Your Microsoft Account (the one that is not linked to any Xbox profile) only has Microsoft 365 subscription on it? If so, here's an article to teach you how to transfer Microsoft 365 subscription and data to another account:
https://www.systoolsgroup.com/updates/transfer-...

Note: This is not a Microsoft approved tutorial. This is a user to user tutorial.

If you are able to transfer your Microsoft 365 subscription to your "Xbox account" (the one you're been playing since mid 2000s), then you'll be all set, right?

Please try the guide above and tell me if it worked for you.

If you still are not able to solve your problem, please let me know and I'll do my best to help you, my friend.

chao365

Ahhh ok. Do you happen to know if there's a way I can remove my account from my email so that I can reuse my current email address to create the new account? From a quick search, it doesn't look like that's possible and it seems the only way to get rid of my Xbox account is to close my Microsoft Account. I'd prefer to continue to use my current email address since it's attached to all of my other online accounts.

Agent_619

But in the activity policy they mentioned that if you have purchased current service contents your account won’t be closed for inactivity. Is that sth incorrect!?

AnimalFan510041

To see about getting a refund, you would need to contact support and speak to billing. 1-800-4my-xbox if you're in the US/Canada or
http://support.xbox.com/contact-us When you buy gold from Xbox it does warn you that auto-renewal will be turned on so you will continue to be billed unless you turn it off.

don't bother useless service.

Xbox has stolen 39.99 from my bank on a closed account with no authorisation from me.

Customer service lie about closing your account and removing bank details and continue to steal money customer service as useless

Nursemorph

Hey , thank you for your help. Now something makes sense to my understanding and my help. I will just once contact EA for their help and if they say same too, then, i will create a different account and link my current Xbox gamertag. In this case do you want me to delete my current EA account. Thanks, once again for your help. Cheers!!!

You'e welcome!

Regarding closing your EA account, you would need to speak to an EA Advisor to do that anyway as you can't close one yourself:

https://help.ea.com/en/help/account/close-ea-account/

Which account do I close to continue with my current services?