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.
How to Safely Open aka.ms/accountrecovery
Updated October 16, 2026.
Opening aka.ms/accountrecovery is straightforward, but the detail that actually keeps you safe is confirming where the short link takes you before you type anything. This independent guide shows how to open it correctly, how to read the address bar, and how to avoid the look-alike pages that copy Microsoft's recovery form.
Type the link carefully
Enter aka.ms/accountrecovery in your browser's address bar exactly, with no extra dots or slashes. aka.ms is Microsoft's own link shortener, so the short link itself is official. You can use any current browser - Microsoft Edge, Chrome or Firefox all work the same way. On a phone, open it in your normal browser app.
Confirm the redirect before you type
This is the step that matters. As of October 2026, aka.ms/accountrecovery redirects to account.live.com/acsr, Microsoft's free recovery form for personal accounts. Once the page loads, look at the address bar and confirm:
- the domain is account.live.com (a genuine recovery or sign-in page may also be on account.microsoft.com or login.live.com);
- the connection shows https and a padlock;
- there are no extra words bolted onto the domain, such as account-live-com.something-else.
If the address does not match, close the tab and open account.live.com/acsr directly instead. Our page on why warnings appear on Windows explains the genuine prompts you may see along the way.
If the link will not open
When the page does not load or loops back to a sign-in screen, the cause is almost always one of these:
- A typo or an old cached redirect. Retype the link, or clear the tab and try again.
- A sign-in prompt. Being asked for your email to start recovery is normal - that is the form doing its job.
- A managed network. Some workplace or school networks filter traffic; try again on your own connection.
You should not need to turn off your antivirus or firewall to reach an official Microsoft page. Advice to "disable your security software" is a common theme in scams, so be cautious of any site or caller that tells you to do so. If a page asks you to install remote-access software or pay a fee to recover your account, it is not Microsoft.
What the form will and will not ask
The real recovery form asks for identifying details so Microsoft can verify you own the account - an alternate contact address, past passwords and information only you would know. It does not ask you to call a phone number, pay a fee, or hand a verification code to another person. Microsoft states that its support agents cannot send password reset links or change account details except through its official forms, so nobody legitimate needs your password or codes.
Where to go next
- Step-by-step account recovery - how to complete the form and what to have ready.
- Recovery form not working? - why requests are declined and how to prepare a stronger second attempt.
- Account locked for suspicious activity - unlocking with a security code.
- Common aka.ms links - where each Microsoft short link leads.
Frequently asked questions
What does aka.ms/accountrecovery open?
It is Microsoft's short link. As of October 2026 it redirects to account.live.com/acsr, the free account recovery form for personal Microsoft accounts. Check the address bar shows account.live.com before typing anything.
Is aka.ms a safe, official domain?
Yes. aka.ms is Microsoft's own link shortener. The important check is where it lands you: a genuine recovery page is on an account.live.com, account.microsoft.com or login.live.com address with https and a padlock.
Why will the link not open on my device?
Usually a typo, an old cached redirect or a network filter. Type the link directly, try a different official browser, or open account.live.com/acsr yourself. You should not need to disable security software for an official Microsoft page.