STUCK IN SIGN IN LOOP - HACKED?

If you are experiencing a sign-in loop or receiving a "cannot complete" message when trying to access your Hotmail account, it’s possible that your account may have been compromised or there may be other issues at play. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the problem:

1. Check for Compromised Account Symptoms: Look for signs that your account may have been hacked, such as suspicious activity, missing emails, or changes to your account settings.
2. Reset Your Password: If you suspect your account has been hacked, reset your password immediately using the security information associated with your account.
3. Use Security Information: If you are locked out, you can use your security information and mobile device to reset your work or school password, provided this feature is enabled by your global admin.
4. Contact Support: If you continue to have trouble signing in, consider reaching out to Microsoft support for assistance. They can help you regain access to your account and ensure it is secure.
5. Check for Multiple Accounts: Ensure you are using the correct credentials for your Hotmail account, as you may have both personal and work accounts that look similar.

If these steps do not resolve your issue, it may be beneficial to contact your organization's IT support if applicable, or Microsoft support directly for further assistance.

References:

• Common symptoms of a compromised Microsoft 365 email account
• Solve account access problems

Dear don thompson,

Thank you for reporting this issue in the Microsoft Q&A forum. I understand how frustrating it is to be stuck in a sign-in loop with a "cannot complete" message, especially when you're concerned about the security of your Hotmail account. 

I see that the AI assistant has provided some initial suggestions. The most important step from that list is to first attempt a password reset, as this can resolve many access issues. If you haven't tried this yet, please do so via the official page: https://account.live.com/password/reset 

To provide you with the most accurate guidance, I need to clarify a few key details about your situation. This will help determine if the problem is with your account security, the Outlook for Windows application, or your local PC's sign-in data. 

Could you please provide the following information? 

1. What is the full text of the "cannot complete" message? 
2. Are you trying to sign in on Outlook.com in a web browser, or within the Classic Outlook for Windows desktop application? 
3. Can you successfully sign in to your account using a web browser on a different device (e.g., a smartphone or another computer)? 

Once you provide these details, here is how we can proceed: 

• If the password reset succeeds and you can sign in on the web but not in Outlook for Windows, the issue is likely with the application or your Windows credential manager. I can then provide specific steps for that. 
• If the password reset fails because your security information (like your recovery email/phone) was changed, this strongly indicates a compromised account. In that case, the next step is to use the dedicated recovery form for such situations: https://account.live.com/acsr.    
• If you cannot sign in on any device, even after a password reset, then contacting Microsoft Account Support directly for a review would be the recommended path. 

Please note that as specialists on this public forum, we cannot access your account or bypass security checks. Feel free to let me know the results of the above steps. I look forward to your update so I can help you move forward. 

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