aka.ms links directory
Updated
Here are some of the most-searched aka.ms links, what each is for and where it actually goes. Every one forwards to Microsoft; always confirm the page you sign in on is a Microsoft-owned address before entering anything.
We checked where each link forwards in October 2026 (most recently on 16 October). Microsoft can change a destination at any time, so treat the "Opens" column as a guide and the address bar as the final word.
| Link | What it is for | Opens |
|---|---|---|
| aka.ms/remoteconnect | Sign in to a Microsoft account for Minecraft cross-platform play. Full guide → | login.live.com |
| aka.ms/authapp | Download the Microsoft Authenticator app. Full guide → | microsoft.com |
| aka.ms/mfasetup | Set up extra security verification (two-step / MFA), mainly for work or school accounts. Full guide → | mysignins.microsoft.com |
| aka.ms/mysecurityinfo | Add, change or remove the phone numbers, emails and apps a work or school account uses to verify your identity. Full guide → | mysignins.microsoft.com |
| aka.ms/recoverykey | Find a BitLocker recovery key saved to your Microsoft account. Full guide → | onedrive.live.com |
| aka.ms/myrecoverykey | Another route to BitLocker recovery keys stored in a personal Microsoft account. See the recovery key guide → | account.microsoft.com |
| aka.ms/recoverykeyfaq | Microsoft's help article about finding a BitLocker recovery key. | support.microsoft.com (via windows.microsoft.com) |
| aka.ms/aadrecoverykey | Find a BitLocker recovery key saved to a work or school account. Full guide → | myaccount.microsoft.com |
| aka.ms/accountsecurity | Manage the security info (extra verification) on a personal Microsoft account. | account.live.com |
| aka.ms/linkphone / aka.ms/linkphoneqr | Open the Phone Link app on a Windows PC to connect your phone; the QR version jumps to the pairing code. Full guide → | Phone Link app on your PC |
| aka.ms/devicelogin | Enter a code to sign in to a device or tool (such as Azure CLI), mainly with work or school accounts. Full guide → | login.microsoftonline.com |
| aka.ms/networksetup | Microsoft's help for getting online while setting up a Windows PC. Full guide → | support.microsoft.com |
| aka.ms/windowssysreq | The Windows 11 minimum system requirements. Full guide → | microsoft.com |
| aka.ms/getpchealthcheckapp | Downloads Microsoft's PC Health Check installer, which checks Windows 11 eligibility. See the requirements guide → | download.microsoft.com (file download) |
| aka.ms/yourpc | Typed on your Android phone during Phone Link setup to get the Link to Windows app. Full guide → | phonelink.microsoft.com |
Why some links open an app instead of a web page
Most aka.ms links forward to a web page. A few, such as aka.ms/linkphone, hand off to an app installed on Windows instead. Those only work on a Windows PC with the app installed; on a phone or another computer they can seem to do nothing. That is normal behaviour, not a broken or fake link.
Why the destination is not always microsoft.com
Microsoft runs several domains. Personal account sign-in and some account pages use live.com addresses, for example, while work and school security pages use mysignins.microsoft.com. All of them are Microsoft's. What should make you stop is an unfamiliar domain, a look-alike spelling, or a page asking for payment or remote access.
Looking for one that is not listed? The safest move is to type the link yourself and read the official Microsoft page it lands on. If a short name has not been set up, aka.ms usually sends you to a Bing search page instead of an error. Learn how to use an aka.ms link and the warning signs in Is aka.ms safe?
Frequently asked questions
Do these links ever change?
Microsoft occasionally updates where a link points, but the purpose usually stays the same. The Microsoft page you land on is always the source of truth.
Why did an aka.ms link take me to Bing?
When we tested short names that do not exist, aka.ms forwarded to a Bing search page. It usually means the link was mistyped or is no longer in use.
Is a link that opens live.com instead of microsoft.com fake?
Not by itself. live.com is a Microsoft domain used for personal account sign-in. Check the spelling of the full address and be wary of any unfamiliar domain.
Which link do I use to manage my security info?
For a work or school account, use aka.ms/mysecurityinfo. For a personal Microsoft account, use the security section of your Microsoft account.