Independent guide - not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft. We never ask for your password, codes or account details. For official help use Microsoft's account recovery form or support.microsoft.com.
Common aka.ms Links and Where Each One Leads
Updated October 16, 2026.
Microsoft uses aka.ms short links as quick routes to its account and security pages. The links are official, but the only way to stay safe is to know where each one is supposed to land you, so a look-alike page stands out immediately. Below is a plain reference of common links with the destination each one redirected to when we checked in October 2026. Destinations can change, so always confirm the final address before you sign in.
Account recovery and sign-in
- aka.ms/accountrecovery - the personal account recovery form at account.live.com/acsr. See our step-by-step guide.
- aka.ms/myrecoverykey - your BitLocker recovery keys backed up to a Microsoft account, at account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey. This is the drive-encryption key, not the account recovery code.
Security and verification
- aka.ms/mysecurity - the work or school Security info page at mysignins.microsoft.com/security-info. See our guide.
- aka.ms/mfasetup - also the Security info page at mysignins.microsoft.com/security-info, used to add multi-factor methods. See our MFA guide.
- aka.ms/authapp - the Microsoft Authenticator app information page at microsoft.com. Useful when moving the app to a new phone.
Passwords and apps (work or school)
- aka.ms/sspr - self-service password reset at passwordreset.microsoftonline.com. See our guide.
- aka.ms/myapps - your organisation's app portal at myapplications.microsoft.com. See our guide.
Tools and other short links
- aka.ms/winget - this does not open a product called "Windows Package Manager" in a browser; it redirects to the winget-pkgs package repository on GitHub. The Windows Package Manager tool itself is the
wingetcommand built into Windows.
Note: other links such as aka.ms/myaccount and aka.ms/intune are sometimes listed in older roundups, but destinations are updated by Microsoft over time. Rather than trust a printed list, follow the link and read the address bar.
How to use these links safely
aka.ms is Microsoft's shortener, so the short link is genuine - but phishing pages copy the destination look. Before entering an email, password or code, confirm the final address sits on a microsoft.com or live.com domain, uses https, and has no extra words glued to the domain name. Microsoft's warning messages never include a phone number, and its agents never ask for your password or verification codes. If a page tells you to call a number, pay a fee or install remote-access software to "recover" your account, it is a scam - see which warnings are genuine and how to open the recovery link safely.
Frequently asked questions
Is aka.ms an official Microsoft domain?
Yes. aka.ms is Microsoft's own link shortener. A short link is only as trustworthy as where it lands, so always confirm the final address is on a microsoft.com or live.com domain with https before entering anything.
Where does aka.ms/accountrecovery go?
As of October 2026 it redirects to account.live.com/acsr, Microsoft's account recovery form for personal Microsoft accounts.
Why do some aka.ms links open a work or school page?
Several links, such as aka.ms/mfasetup and aka.ms/mysecurity, lead to mysignins.microsoft.com/security-info, which is the Security info page for organisation-issued accounts. Personal accounts use account.microsoft.com instead.