Microsoft Account Errors

Fix Microsoft Account Alias Is Already Taken Error

Phi Hung Vo Oct 7, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user is unable to add a specific email address as a new alias to their Microsoft account because the system reports the address is already taken.

How to Fix Microsoft Account Alias Is Already Taken Error

Product: Microsoft Account
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Adding a new email address alias to an existing Microsoft account for login or communication purposes.
Observed behavior: The system rejects the email address, displaying an error message stating that the alias is already taken and cannot be added.

Before you start

Verify that the email address you are trying to add is not already in use as a primary or secondary email on another Microsoft account, including old Xbox or Skype profiles.

Solution 1Recommended

Create a New Outlook.com Alias Directly

Use this solution if you are trying to add an existing Microsoft domain email (like Hotmail, Live, or Outlook), as these cannot be transferred between accounts.

Microsoft prohibits the transfer of existing @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, @live.com, or @msn.com email addresses between accounts. If the address exists on another account, it cannot be added as an alias to your current account. The best approach is to create a brand new alias from within your account settings.

Access your account info

Sign in to your Microsoft account. Navigate to the 'Your info' tab at the top of the page, then select 'Edit account info' to open the Manage how you sign in to Microsoft page.

Add a new alias

Click the 'Add email' link located under your list of current account aliases.

Create the new address

Select the option to 'Create a new email address and add it as an alias' instead of trying to add an existing address. Type in your desired new username.

Verify and set as primary

Click 'Add alias'. Once successfully added, you can click 'Make primary' next to this new email if you want it to be your main sign-in address. Do not remove your old alias until the new one is working properly.

Important Alias Deletion Warning: If you remove an alias that is an email address from a Microsoft domain (like @hotmail.com or @outlook.com), you're permanently deleting the address and it cannot be associated with any Microsoft account again.

Solution 2

Free Up a Third-Party Email Address

Use this method if you are trying to add a third-party email (like Gmail or Yahoo) and receive the 'already taken' error.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer my Hotmail or Outlook.com address to another Microsoft account?

No. Existing email addresses from Microsoft domains (such as @hotmail.com, @live.com, @msn.com, and @outlook.com) cannot be transferred between accounts. If you want to consolidate accounts, you will need to create a new alias or set up forwarding.

What happens if I remove a Microsoft domain alias from my account?

If you remove an alias that uses a Microsoft domain (like @outlook.com or @hotmail.com), it is permanently deleted from Microsoft's servers. You will lose access to its inbox, and the address can never be recreated or added to another account.

Why does my newly created third-party email say it's already taken?

If you just created a brand new Gmail or Yahoo account but Microsoft says it's already taken, someone else may have previously used that email prefix to create a Microsoft account, or you accidentally set up a Microsoft account with it during Windows setup. You will need to recover the account using the password reset process.

Login & Account Issues