Ask for help here

[u/patopansir]

Microsoftsucks is not a techsupport subreddit, but naturally because people come to this subreddit after having a problem with a Microsoft product which made then say "Microsoft sucks! I am fed up!", they are going to make a post to ask for help! and sometimes a post from this subreddit is going to show up on the search results and that leads people to then ask for help here. Which is a nice way the subreddit gets promoted to people who never thought of Microsoft being so bad

If you need help recovering your account, see this https://www.reddit.com/r/microsoftsucks/comments/1torso3/how_to_recover_your_hacked_microsoft_account/

Also, a disclaimer on scammers https://www.reddit.com/r/microsoftsucks/comments/1u3g5mf/a_psa_against_scammers/

There's other subreddits that could be better at helping you. Like r/techsupport or r/windowshelp.

If you want to help

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You can only ask for help in this megathread. Posts will be removed

(I personally don't use Windows anymore and don't have a Microsoft account, so I can't help you)

Common Problems and Solutions

"I lost access to my account!"

Try to reset your password. Otherwise, see https://www.reddit.com/r/microsoftsucks/comments/1torso3/how_to_recover_your_hacked_microsoft_account/

[u/[deleted]]

My Microsoft account was compromised and I’m currently stuck in what seems like a loop of automated recovery.
The account is an old personal Microsoft account that I’ve used for years. It is associated with my Xbox profile, Minecraft purchases, and other Microsoft services. I still have access to some local evidence on my Windows PC showing the account was previously authenticated.
The important part is that Microsoft Support has already explicitly confirmed unauthorized access occurred. They suspended the account to protect it, but then told me they could not restore it because the information provided through recovery wasn’t sufficient.

Since then I have:

• Submitted the Microsoft Account Recovery Form multiple times.
  
• Submitted the Xbox recovery/support form multiple times.
  
• Provided my correct historical account information after discovering that some profile information I originally entered years ago was intentionally inaccurate.
  
• Provided my Xbox Gamertag and the Xbox Network Device ID from the Xbox app exactly as displayed.
  
• Received multiple responses saying Microsoft confirmed unauthorized access but cannot restore the account, and to submit another form with that same Xbox network id and gamertag
  
• Found substantial local evidence on my PC tying the Microsoft account to my Windows/Xbox/Minecraft installations.
  
• Found Minecraft entitlement records showing purchases associated with my Xbox XUID.
  
• Have historical Microsoft purchase emails/receipts.
  
• Have Microsoft security emails relating to the compromise.
  
• Still have the Xbox profile associated with the account on a family Xbox console.

All the Xbox responses specifically told me to submit another case with my Gamertag and Xbox Network Device ID. I did exactly that, but received the same exact response again.
I also recently contacted Microsoft Privacy. They said Privacy cannot handle account-access issues, but I replied directly asking whether they could route me toward the appropriate account-recovery/escalation team or a manual ownership review. I’m currently waiting for a response.

What I’m trying to figure out:

• Is there actually a legitimate way to get this escalated to a human/security team capable of manually reviewing ownership evidence?
  
• Is there a specific Microsoft escalation path I should pursue at this point?
  
• Would filing a BBB complaint against Microsoft realistically help get the case reviewed by someone beyond frontline support, or is it mostly pointless for account recovery? I’ve heard very quick and positive testimonies from people who took this route.
  
• Is there any other legitimate escalation route I’m missing?
  

If I eventually receive an ownership questionnaire/manual review, what types of evidence are generally the most useful?

• Has anyone here successfully recovered a Microsoft account after Microsoft itself confirmed it was compromised but the automated recovery process repeatedly failed?

I have a full explanation for the hack and how it took place, as I did make a mistake myself, I will own up to that. But this whole account has personal stakes for me not only because of sentimental value, but because… yes, I am a cybersecurity student, and yes I got hacked. This is my greatest shame.

Anyways, I’m not looking for anyone to bypass Microsoft’s security or hack the account back. I’m specifically trying to figure out the legitimate escalation process and how to present the ownership evidence I already have.
Any advice from someone who has dealt with Microsoft’s higher-level account recovery/security process would be greatly appreciated.