Windows 11 reinstall - Microsoft login offering someone else's email address

It sounds like the laptop may have been previously used or improperly reset before it was sold to your friend. When a device is reset, it should return to a state similar to the Out of Box Experience (OOBE), which typically does not retain any previous user's information. If another email address is appearing on the Microsoft Account login screen, it suggests that the device may not have been fully cleared of previous user data.

In this case, it would be advisable to contact the retailer to report the issue, as it could indicate that the laptop was mis-sold or not properly refurbished. They may offer a solution, such as a replacement or refund, especially if the device is not functioning as expected due to this issue.

To fully clear the laptop, check for leftover accounts, do a clean Windows install, and confirm it’s not tied to someone else’s Microsoft or BitLocker credentials, also scan for system issues and verify Windows activation.

If unsure about the clean install, ask a technician or use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool for a guided setup.

Make sure BitLocker isn’t locking the drive this could block access if it’s tied to the previous owner.

Also, when checking the activation status, does it show “Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account,” or is it tied to someone else’s account?

let me know how it goes.

Chard

Hi, it looks like the system is asking to verify an email that isn’t your friend’s, which strongly suggests the device was linked to another account before. If you prefer, returning it for a refund is reasonable. Alternatively, you could reset the PC to factory settings to remove any previous account.

have you tried a full factory reset to confirm whether the previous account persists after wiping the device?

Chard