Windows 10: How to change my primary sign in microsoft account on my laptop

a couple of years ago 2021 i gave a laptop that i wasn't using to my father when his stopped working. I mostly used my Mac at home and the PC's at work when I needed to, so I didn't need it and he did. I set him up a user of the laptop and showed him how to sign in. Occasionally he would forget his password and ask me to give him the code that was sent to my E-mail to reset the password. I figured it was because I was the one who had originally bought and set up the laptop, but no big deal. In the summer of 2023 I got a new laptop and signed in under my normal Microsoft ID and got it all set

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Unable to change primary alias - Microsoft Account

Hi John,

As per the description, you are experiencing issue with you are unable to change the primary alias for your Microsoft account on the system.

I certainly understand your concern and appreciate all your efforts in trying to fix this issue.

I would like to provide you with the information that
an account alias is an email address or phone number that you use to sign in to your Microsoft account. You can have multiple aliases, and use any of them with Microsoft services such as Outlook.com, Skype, OneDrive,
Office, Xbox, Windows and more.

Your primary alias appears on devices such as your Xbox, Surface, and Windows Phone, and is the email OneDrive sends from when you share. You can choose a different alias to be the primary one at any time.

An alias is also the best way to change your email, but keep all your mail.
Add an alias, then make the new alias primary. Then you can
keep or remove the original alias.

I would suggest you to try the following steps and check if that helps.

• Sign in to the
  Microsoft account website.
• Under Account aliases, click/tap on the Make primary link to the right of an
  
  added email alias you want to be your primary alias.

Note: The email alias at the top of the list without a Make primary link is your current primary alias.

• Uncheck the Send me promotional offers from Microsoft box if you like, and click/tap on Yes to confirm.

You may also try the following steps given below and check if that helps.

• Navigate to Start>Settings>Account>Your Account.
• In the right pane, click on Sign in with a local account instead.
• Provide your current Microsoft Account Password.
• Follow the on-screen instructions.
• You can leave the Enter Password option empty, however, it is highly recommended to keep a password on your system to keep it safe.
  

For reference:

I would suggest you to refer to the article given below and check if that helps.

Microsoft account help

Account help

I hope this information is helpful.

Please do let us know if you need any further assistance, we will be glad to assist you.

Thank you.

 

Change the primary account email on my Surface Book 2

Hi,

I have changed my email associated with Microsoft account (by creating a new profile) and can't find a way to replace the now obselete email showing in my primary profile, or removing this primary profile completely to be replaced by the new profile/email. The only solution suggested on Mircosoft Community is to sign in with a local account instead (under Account Settings on my laptop). I'm relunctant to do this due to the backup of the recovery key associated with the microsoft account and potential issues accessing my computer files with the secondary email only. So complicated to change a profile email address. So many hours wasted searching...

Please can anyone provide a simple step by step solution?

*** Moved from Windows / Windows 10 / Settings ***

 

Can't Sign into Xbox App or Play Microsoft Store Games After Changing Primary Email

Hi,



Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

I understand that it can be frustrating when you are not able to login to your Xbox account. As you have changed the Primary email address, it can take up to 48 hours for the change to your email address to be implemented across all Microsoft services.



For more information on changing primary email address for your Xbox account, please refer to:
How to change the email address associated
with your Microsoft account



I would also suggest to try the steps mentioned in the article:
Fix problems signing in to the Xbox app



Hope it helps.



Thanks,

Peer Samie

Microsoft Community-Moderator