Like other major corporations, Microsoft prioritizes your account security and personal information. To safeguard your account, Microsoft actively monitors for suspicious login attempts by unauthorized individuals.
If Microsoft detects a suspicious login attempt, it is immediately flagged, and you’ll receive two forms of alerts:
- An email notification about the login attempt
- An SMS alert sent to your registered phone number
This two-factor authentication acts as an additional layer of protection. Even if someone knows your password, they won’t be able to fully access your account without the second form of verification.
Reasons Why You Received an Unusual Sign-In Activity Email
Microsoft sends you emails about unusual sign-in activity for several reasons. While these emails can be triggered by your own actions, it’s always essential to review them to ensure there’s no real threat to your account.
Here are some of the most common triggers for receiving an unusual sign-in activity email:
- Signing in from a new device that hasn’t been used to access your account before.
- Signing in from a different location, such as when you’re away from home.
- Signing in from a foreign country that doesn’t match your typical location.
- Signing in with an unknown IP address that Microsoft doesn’t recognize.
- Allowing an application to access your Microsoft account.
How Microsoft Protects Your Account
Microsoft implements two key security measures to protect your account from hackers, account thieves, online scammers, and other malicious individuals:
1. Security Code Verification
When you try to access your account from an unusual location or device, Microsoft will flag the activity as suspicious. This is to prevent unauthorized individuals from accessing your account, even if they have your password.
You will be prompted to enter a security code, which can be sent to an alternate contact method linked to your account. This could be a secondary email address or a phone number you’ve added to your account.
Notifications of Suspicious Logins
Whenever suspicious logins are detected, Microsoft will send notifications to all of your alternate contact methods. This means you’ll receive alerts via both email and text message.
It’s crucial to always check the sender when you receive emails from Microsoft about suspicious login attempts. Online scammers often use a technique called phishing to trick you into revealing your Microsoft account credentials by sending you fake emails that appear legitimate.
Legitimate Microsoft Email Address
The only official Microsoft account team email from which Microsoft will contact you is:
account-security-noreply@accountprotection.microsoft.com
Be cautious and verify the sender to ensure the email is truly from Microsoft and not a phishing attempt.
What to Do if You’re Signing In to Your Microsoft Account from a New Device or Location
To protect your Microsoft account from potential attacks, Microsoft may flag even harmless login attempts, including those made by you. This typically happens if you are logging in from a new device or a different location.
While this might seem inconvenient, the goal is to ensure your account security. Even if someone else has your login details, they won’t be able to proceed without access to your alternate contact methods.
How to Sign In to Your Microsoft Account from a New Device or Location
1. Confirm Your Identity with a Security Code
If your sign-in attempt is blocked, Microsoft will prompt you to unlock your account by verifying your identity. You can choose to receive a security code via a secondary email address or a phone number previously added to your account.
2. Gain Access to a Trusted Device
If you’re unable to receive a security code, you’ll need to access a trusted device. A trusted device is one that you frequently use to log into your Microsoft account (like a phone, tablet, computer, or laptop). Trusted devices must be added manually via the Security settings page.
To resolve the issue:
- Use one of your trusted devices to access your account.
- If you’re traveling and left your trusted device at home, you can contact someone you trust to access it. They can retrieve the security code and forward it to you, allowing you to proceed with logging in.
What to Do if You Don’t Know Why You Got a Suspicious Login Message
Receiving an alert about suspicious login activity can be concerning, especially if you don’t recall doing anything unusual when logging into your Microsoft account. If this happens, it’s crucial to secure your account immediately.
Follow these steps to ensure your account security:
Steps to Check the Security of Your Account
- Navigate to the Security Basics Page
Go to the Security basics page to start reviewing your account’s security.
- Click on the Review Activity Button
Select the Review activity button to begin checking recent login attempts.
- Sign In to Your Microsoft Account
You’ll be asked to sign in to your Microsoft account. If your password isn’t working, proceed to the next section of this article to troubleshoot the issue. - Verify Your Identity with a Security Code
Microsoft will ask you to verify your identity by entering a security code. Choose how you want to receive the code—either via email or text message.
- Check Your Email or Text Messages for the Code
Once you receive the code, ensure that the sender is legitimate. Only trust messages from the official Microsoft account team, using the email address account-security-noreply@accountprotection.microsoft.com.
- Enter the Security Code to Complete Identity Verification
Input the security code to finish verifying your identity and proceed.
- Review Recent Sign-In Activity
Look at the list of recent sign-ins to your account. You’ll see details like the time, IP address, web browser, device type, and approximate location of each login.
- Flag Suspicious Activity
If you spot anything unusual, click on the suspicious entry and select the Secure your account link to protect your account.
Securing Your Microsoft Account
If you’ve identified suspicious login activity that wasn’t made by you, it’s crucial to increase the security of your account. The most effective way to do this is by changing your password to something harder to guess or steal.
How to Change Your Microsoft Account Password
Follow these steps to change your password and strengthen your account security:
- Navigate to the Security Basics Page
Start by going to the Security basics page.
- Click on Change Password
Once you’re on the page, click on Change password.
- Enter Your Current Password and Create a Strong New One
Enter your current password and then create a new password. A strong password should be at least 12 characters long and include a mix of lowercase letters, uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
Be sure to choose a password that you’ve never used before on any of your online accounts. - Set Up Automatic Password Change Prompts
You can opt to receive automatic password change prompts every 72 days. This feature ensures your password stays fresh and difficult to guess.
Can’t Access Your Account?
If you can’t sign in with your current password, it’s possible that someone else changed it. Follow these steps to regain access to your Microsoft account:
- Reset Your Password
Visit the When you can’t sign in to your Microsoft account page to reset your password. - If You Still Can’t Reset Your Password, Try This:
- Click on Forgot my password.
- Select I think someone else is using my Microsoft account.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to recover your account.
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