aka.ms/remoteconnect explained
Updated
When you start Minecraft on a console or device and it needs a Microsoft account for cross-platform play, it shows a code and asks you to go to aka.ms/remoteconnect.
Where the link goes
When we checked on 16 October 2026, aka.ms/remoteconnect forwarded to login.live.com/oauth20_remoteconnect.srf. login.live.com is Microsoft's sign-in for personal Microsoft accounts, the same kind of account used for Outlook.com, Xbox and Minecraft. It is not microsoft.com, but it is a genuine Microsoft domain. A page on any other domain is a warning sign.
How to sign in, step by step
- Note the code shown in Minecraft on your console or device. Leave that screen open; the game waits for you.
- On a phone or computer, open aka.ms/remoteconnect. It opens Microsoft's official sign-in page.
- Enter the code and sign in. The page asks for the code from Minecraft and for the Microsoft account you want Minecraft to use (you can create one). Follow the prompts in the order shown and approve any security check, such as a request in the Authenticator app.
- Return to the game. It continues on its own once the sign-in completes.
Why Minecraft uses a code
Typing an email address and password with a game controller is slow, and some devices cannot show a full sign-in page. A short code shown on screen lets you do the actual sign-in on a phone or computer, where you also have your password manager and your two-step verification app. The code links the two sessions together, so the console signs in without ever seeing your password.
If it is not working
- Code expired: codes are short-lived. Restart Minecraft or go back to the sign-in option so it shows a fresh code, then enter it quickly.
- Code not accepted: check for look-alike characters, and make sure you are entering the code currently on screen, not an older one.
- Loop keeps asking: make sure you are signing in to one consistent Microsoft account, and that your console is signed in to that same account where the platform requires it.
- Wrong account: your browser may sign you in automatically with another account. Sign out first, or use a private window, then sign back in with the correct Microsoft account before entering the code.
- Forgot the password: reset it through Microsoft's official account recovery steps, linked in the sources below, then start again.
For game-specific problems after you are signed in, Minecraft's official help centre at help.minecraft.net is the place to look.
remoteconnect is not the same as devicelogin
Both links ask for a code shown on another screen. aka.ms/remoteconnect is for the personal Microsoft account that Minecraft uses. aka.ms/devicelogin is a different Microsoft sign-in used mainly with work or school accounts and developer tools. Use the link your screen shows.
Setting up two-step verification for the same account? See aka.ms/authapp. Other links are in our aka.ms links directory.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Why does Minecraft send me to aka.ms/remoteconnect?
Cross-platform play needs a Microsoft account. The link opens Microsoft's sign-in so you can enter the code shown in the game and connect your account.
The aka.ms/remoteconnect code keeps failing.
Generate a new code by restarting Minecraft, make sure you use the same Microsoft account on both devices, and enter the code promptly.
Is aka.ms/remoteconnect safe?
Yes, when you started the sign-in yourself. On 16 October 2026 it forwarded to login.live.com, Microsoft's personal account sign-in. Never enter a code someone else sent you.
Do I need to pay to link my Microsoft account to Minecraft?
No. Signing in with a Microsoft account through aka.ms/remoteconnect does not involve a fee. Any page asking for payment to finish linking is not Microsoft.