How-To : Change your Windows Live ID and keep your Messenger Contact list

July 9, 2008 Helmer How-To, Microsoft 45 comments

It doesn’t happen very often, but it’s good to know that it’s possible : Changing you’re Windows Live Messenger e-mail address without having to tell all your contacts that you’re going to change the address.

Let’s say I want to change the Windows Live ID I use for Windows Live Messenger, but I don’t want to e-mail everybody my new Messenger address. In this example my current Messenger address is and the address I’m going to use is .

Below I will describe the steps you will have to take to change you’re Live Messenger e-mailaddress and update your contacts automatically (updating your contacts can take 48 hours to complete).

Step 1 : Log on to https://account.live.com with you’re current Windows Live ID ( in this example)

Step 2 : Click on the Change button next to your current Windows Live ID (see picture below)

Step 3 : In the password field you have to enter the password for your current Windows Live ID ().

Step 4 : At Change your Windows Live ID select the appropriate radio button and enter your new Windows Live ID ( in my example) and click Save.

You’re all set and within the next 48 hours you’re Windows Live ID will automatically be updated in contact lists of you’re messenger friends.

About Helmer

Helmer currently works as a Technical Consultant at Inter Access in Hilversum, the Netherlands. His areas of expertise are : Windows Client, Microsoft Deployment (WDS, MDT & SCCM) and Forefront Security. Besides his own blog he also blogs at the Dutch Microsoft IT Pro Community blog. He is also very interested in all sorts of new IT-related gadgets.

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http://youtube.com/watch?v=eyARhzMizkE Psychic Advice

Thanks for the great info. I hope you’ll follow this with some more great content.
charissa

hey, i tried that, but it said “your windows live ID can’t be changed at this time.”

What is my problem?
http://blog.hznet.nl Helmer

@Charissa : Don’t know…I was able to change my Live ID, but it gave me too much troubles (even when I changed it back again). Most of my contacts never came online again And I wasn’t in their contact list anymore (tried it with some colleagues).
LAURENCE

Heyyy. mine doesnt say change on the sidee,
y nott ?
Jaws

I changed my ID, but it gave me the same troubles. my contact appear offline and my account did not update in their contact list.
Carlos

Can’t see those options anywhere….

seems that this is not working anymore…
http://blog.hznet.nl Helmer

@Carlos : it didn’t work on ALL My Live ID’s. My ‘old’ (created back in 1998) hotmail account didn’t have the option to change my live ID…my newly created Live ID (or the one I created just a few years ago) did have the option….strange…
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http://frungi.livejournal.com/profile Frungi

This doesn’t seem possible in the current iteration… I know it used to be, because I’ve done it before, but this time I had to resort to asking MS support about it via web form.
http://frungi.livejournal.com/profile Frungi

This doesn’t seem possible in the current iteration… I know it used to be, because I’ve done it before, but this time I had to resort to asking MS support about it via web form.
http://blog.hznet.nl Helmer

Hmm…that sucks! It's also not possible (I found out) with a @hotmail.com address. On which forum did you asked it?
http://blog.hznet.nl Helmer

Hmm…that sucks! It's also not possible (I found out) with a @hotmail.com address. On which forum did you asked it?
http://frungi.livejournal.com/profile Frungi

Not a forum, a form, linked from the help documents on Live.com. I’ll post here when I hear back from them, if you want.
http://frungi.livejournal.com/profile Frungi

Not a forum, a form, linked from the help documents on Live.com. I’ll post here when I hear back from them, if you want.
http://frungi.livejournal.com/profile Frungi

Sorry, my mistake… the part of the page with the account information and the change link just wasn’t loading in my browser. (Surprise, a Microsoft site doesn’t work in all browsers.)
http://frungi.livejournal.com/profile Frungi

Sorry, my mistake… the part of the page with the account information and the change link just wasn’t loading in my browser. (Surprise, a Microsoft site doesn’t work in all browsers.)
Alex

It doesn't work. I tried to change my account and after that all my messanger's contacts display in offline. Only after changed my new account to my old account I can see my contacts in online.
http://frungi.livejournal.com/profile Frungi

It does warn about that when you do it… something like, “All your contacts will display as offline until they next log in, because we couldn't figure out how to update things properly.”
Alex

It doesn't work. I tried to change my account and after that all my messanger's contacts display in offline. Only after changed my new account to my old account I can see my contacts in online.
- Mrch1ps
  
  Mine is the same
http://frungi.livejournal.com/profile Frungi

It does warn about that when you do it… something like, “All your contacts will display as offline until they next log in, because we couldn't figure out how to update things properly.”
Alex

It doesn't work. I tried to change my account and after that all my messanger's contacts display in offline. Only after changed my new account to my old account I can see my contacts in online.
http://frungi.livejournal.com/profile Frungi

It does warn about that when you do it… something like, “All your contacts will display as offline until they next log in, because we couldn't figure out how to update things properly.”
Esther

how come i dont see the “change” button next to my current ID?
http://blog.hznet.nl Helmer

Too bad it ONLY works if your Live ID isn't a @hotmail.com or @live.* one…so IF you happened to use your own e-mail address then it's possible to change your ID…as far as I know.
Bethany

yeah i agree and it's stupid because it has messed up my msn as it's saying no one is online! DONT TAKE THE CHANCE ITS GAY AS MSN IS BASICALLY MY LIFE!!!
Volisy

I have hotmail account and now forced to change ID, but no change button or instructions on how to change. so what do or can i do?
Oskar

I have a change button behind the windows live ID, but when I open the change page, it says that Your Windows Live ID can’t be changed at this time. By the way i have an hotmail.com account, I see that this is the problem right?
Jasmine

Did not work. Tells me Your Windows Live ID can’t be changed
Your Windows Live ID can’t be changed at this time.And this is each time I try.
Jasmine

Did not work. Tells me Your Windows Live ID can’t be changed
Your Windows Live ID can’t be changed at this time.And this is each time I try.
Jasmine

Did not work. Tells me Your Windows Live ID can’t be changed
Your Windows Live ID can’t be changed at this time.And this is each time I try.
Vxrz

it says that i cant change it now…
- Pp999pp
  
  yh thats what it said to me
  - Thatguy
    
    same goes for me
Sonic

i cnt chnge it
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Some of the information you provide here. Please let me know if this ok with you. Thanks a lot!
Gail_187

i did that but it said ”
Your Windows Live ID can’t be changed at this time.” can you help? please
Chaz

Does this change by itself on the websites we are subscribed to?
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I follow above the steps to change my Live Id.Above the review is very helpful to improve my knowledge.
Ladyc-

It’s very frustrating as I keep on getting “Your Windows Live ID can’t be changed at this time.” Please help
John

It don’t work Looks like your going to have to change your email if you wish to change your Windows Live ID
Rao Qamar

i have change my windows live id like my old one is that (love@hotmail.com) and i have changed it to love@love.com but when i open it it required to verify.when i want to verify and login it open the previous page that verify your ID first then login.but the questen is that if it did’t open then how can i verify it.please tell me hurry up……i am dieing….
Rao Qamar

i have change my windows live id like my old one is that (love@hotmail.com) and i have changed it to love@love.com but when i open it it required to verify.when i want to verify and login it open the previous page that verify your ID first then login.but the questen is that if it did’t open then how can i verify it.please tell me hurry up……i am dieing….
Noufa123

I was wondering how do i change back to my original windows ID after i have changed it ?
http://www.facebook.com/StStroh Samuel Stroh

Thanx men, i dont know why id did that Live Id when i was 17 :/ What a shame!

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