Mobile Phone Query

[Petrushka]

I've recently had a new mobile phone but am unable to to link in my Outlook email account because I cannot remember the password I used on original set up several years ago. To make matter worse, the alternative email address I gave for 'forgotten password' communication was my old office email address which I can no longer access.

The assistant in the shop set up a gmail account for me on the phone but is there any way that I can link my Outlook account to my mobile? I have a Samsung Galaxy SA13.

[Dave2002]

I've recently had a new mobile phone but am unable to to link in my Outlook email account because I cannot remember the password I used on original set up several years ago. To make matter worse, the alternative email address I gave for 'forgotten password' communication was my old office email address which I can no longer access.

The assistant in the shop set up a gmail account for me on the phone but is there any way that I can link my Outlook account to my mobile? I have a Samsung Galaxy SA13.

Can you get into your Outlook account from any of your machines or phones? If so, then you may be able to reset the password. Otherwise you have a couple of options I think. The first is just to abandon that email account - though perhaps you don't want to do that. The second is to contact the Outlook provider and ask for help. I'm assuming that is Microsoft. Chances are that if you go through some lengthy process to verify who you are they might be able to locate your account and give you access again. OTOH the provider may already have closed that account if you've not used if for years, in which case just set up a new one with any provider you fancy.

[richardfinegold]

I am wondering why you want to link to Outlook since you apparently don’t use it? Unless I misunderstood your OP. However if you really don’t use it, and wish to start and want to link it to your phone, I would just create a new account

[Pulcinella]

Probably too late now, but was your Outlook mail up and running on your old phone (so not needing the password as it was always active)?
If you still have that phone the shop assistant may be able to find a way for you to use it to go in and change your 'forgotten password' account to your new gmail account, and then use that to reset your Outlook account.
Hope that makes sense!

[Petrushka]

I am wondering why you want to link to Outlook since you apparently don’t use it? Unless I misunderstood your OP. However if you really don’t use it, and wish to start and want to link it to your phone, I would just create a new account

It's the exact opposite. Hotmail/Outlook is my only email and I wanted to link it to my new mobile phone. However, without the security verification it can't be done and as I've forgotten the password as well as used a now defunct alternative email address for this purpose, it seems it really can't be done.

Pulcinella Yes, my Outlook account was indeed on my old phone but I still needed the verification to link it to my new one. I think I see what you are getting at regarding using the Gmail account but the shop assistant was adamant that we can't get round it. The security is there for a reason and it looks as if I'll have to be satisfied with Hotmail/Outlook on my laptop and Gmail on my phone, unless someone can come up with a way round it.

[Pulcinella]

It's the exact opposite. Hotmail/Outlook is my only email and I wanted to link it to my new mobile phone. However, without the security verification it can't be done and as I've forgotten the password as well as used a now defunct alternative email address for this purpose, it seems it really can't be done.

Pulcinella Yes, my Outlook account was indeed on my old phone but I still needed the verification to link it to my new one. I think I see what you are getting at regarding using the Gmail account but the shop assistant was adamant that we can't get round it. The security is there for a reason and it looks as if I'll have to be satisfied with Hotmail/Outlook on my laptop and Gmail on my phone, unless someone can come up with a way round it.

I might be misunderstanding, but if the Hotmail/Outlook account you want to have on your new phone is the one on your laptop and it is up and running without needing the forgotten password, then can you not use it (from your laptop) to change the registered alternative email address to your new gmail address from your old office one, and reset that way, or do you need the password you've forgotten to do even that?

I found this, which might help:

You can change your alternate email address of Outlook account by these simple steps-

Open MS Outlook.
Click on File menu.
Click on Account Setting.
From the dialog box click on file menu and select your alternate email id.
Click on Remove or Change
Note: if you click on Remove then your mails will be delete from machine.

Click on New.
Fill all the mandatory fields.
Note: Follow all the instructions for submission of the informations.

[Dave2002]

I might be misunderstanding, but if the Hotmail/Outlook account you want to have on your new phone is the one on your laptop and it is up and running without needing the forgotten password, then can you not use it (from your laptop) to change the registered alternative email address to your new gmail address from your old office one, and reset that way, or do you need the password you've forgotten to do even that?

I believe that was the point I tried to make above.

Further - mrs d managed to completely lose her Apple password - same sort of issue a few years ago - and had to go through a very lengthy re-verification procedure in order to recover one which worked - by contacting customer service - but Apple were able to do this for iOS devices and access to the app store. It did take a long while - months rather than minutes or days - but eventually was OK. I can't say for sure, but my guess is that Microsoft will have a similar checking process if you pursue the issue with them - though it may be somewhat tedious.

If you can do that make sure you keep the details if you do get a reinstated working version.

[Petrushka]

I might be misunderstanding, but if the Hotmail/Outlook account you want to have on your new phone is the one on your laptop and it is up and running without needing the forgotten password, then can you not use it (from your laptop) to change the registered alternative email address to your new gmail address from your old office one, and reset that way, or do you need the password you've forgotten to do even that?

I found this, which might help:

You can change your alternate email address of Outlook account by these simple steps-

Open MS Outlook.
Click on File menu.
Click on Account Setting.
From the dialog box click on file menu and select your alternate email id.
Click on Remove or Change
Note: if you click on Remove then your mails will be delete from machine.

Click on New.
Fill all the mandatory fields.
Note: Follow all the instructions for submission of the informations.

I'm on Windows 10 and think it might be different to the above. I've gone into my own Microsoft Account information and then into Security and the alternative email address is there but am stopped from going any further because I need my forgotten password to access 'sensitive information'! After a search I've found some more information about exactly this problem on a Microsoft forum. I'll sit down and have a read once my had stops aching! If it was all so easy anyone would be able to gain access so I think I'm going to have to live with two email addresses on two different devices.

[Pulcinella]

I'm on Windows 10 and think it might be different to the above. I've gone into my own Microsoft Account information and then into Security and the alternative email address is there but am stopped from going any further because I need my forgotten password to access 'sensitive information'! After a search I've found some more information about exactly this problem on a Microsoft forum. I'll sit down and have a read once my had stops aching! If it was all so easy anyone would be able to gain access so I think I'm going to have to live with two email addresses on two different devices.

Hope you get somewhere: I did fear that that suggestion was either old or needed the password you've forgotten.

[Forget It (U2079353)]

Do you access your Outlook account on Win 10 using a web browser?
If so the browser may store the password in its password cache.
The cache can usually be read via the Settings or Password menu in the browser.
I use Firefox but it will probably be the same for Chrome, Safari, Edge etc.

If this is true and you recover your password then you can try and set up the new phone with that Outlook password.
If the setup fails to connect silently - try going back to the Win10 PC to read your outlook mail.
There probably will be a message indicating a login attempt from a new unknown device and then a way to indicate "that was me"

I do hope this is the case, other wise its out of my paygrade!

[richardfinegold]

Do you access your Outlook account on Win 10 using a web browser?
If so the browser may store the password in its password cache.
The cache can usually be read via the Settings or Password menu in the browser.
I use Firefox but it will probably be the same for Chrome, Safari, Edge etc.

If this is true and you recover your password then you can try and set up the new phone with that Outlook password.
If the setup fails to connect silently - try going back to the Win10 PC to read your outlook mail.
There probably will be a message indicating a login attempt from a new unknown device and then a way to indicate "that was me"

I do hope this is the case, other wise its out of my paygrade!

I was about to suggest something similar. Your laptop should have the password stored. I’ve done this for both Macs and Android but not Windows but it should be doable. Another possibility would be buying a Windows based mobile phone, if they still make those.