> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://dexcore.gitbook.io/guide/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://dexcore.gitbook.io/guide/modules/outlook-hotmail/features/set-recovery-email.md).

# Set Recovery Email

{% hint style="info" %}
**What is a Recovery Email?** It's a backup email address linked to your Outlook account. If you lose your password or need to verify your identity, Outlook sends a code to this recovery email. DexCore needs it for many operations.
{% endhint %}

***

## Before You Start

{% hint style="warning" %}
**You MUST have these ready before using this function:**

1. ✅ Config file with IMAP credentials set up — 👉 [Config File](/guide/setup/installation/config-file.md)
2. ✅ At least one domain purchased and linked to your IMAP via catch-all — 👉 [Domains Setup](/guide/setup/installation/config-file/domains-setup.md) All of the above are required for this function to work.

{% hint style="info" %}
**New accounts only:** If you're setting up freshly purchased accounts for the first time, run **Check Emails (Check for Security)** first to confirm the accounts have no existing protection — 👉 [Check Emails](/guide/modules/outlook-hotmail/features/check-emails.md). Skip this if you've already checked the accounts.
{% endhint %}
{% endhint %}

***

## How It Works

The bot generates a recovery email address on your domain and sets it on the Outlook account. When Outlook sends an OTP code (a one-time verification code) to that recovery address, the code arrives via your domain's catch-all → your Gmail → IMAP → the bot reads it.

{% hint style="info" %}
**What is OTP?** OTP means "One-Time Password" — a temporary code sent to your email to verify your identity. It's only valid for a few minutes.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="success" %}
By default, the bot uses all domains listed in the Config file for generating recovery emails. We recommend a ratio of **1 domain per 1000 emails** at a time. More than that may overload the mail system and cause delays.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
If your account already has protection (2FA, Recovery Email, Phone), you must provide access to that existing protection. Otherwise, the bot cannot set a new recovery email.
{% endhint %}

***

## Recovery Types — 4 Options

Select the recovery type in the **Settings** function by ticking the checkbox next to the option.

### 1. 🗹 Email Name for Recovery

**When to use this:** You want the simplest setup with zero manual work.

The bot takes the name from the original email and adds a digit (0–9). You don't need to put anything in the Recovery Email column — leave it empty.

**Example:** If your account is `test@outlook.com`, the bot might create `test8@domain.com`.

***

### 2. 🗹 Custom Names for Recovery

**When to use this:** You want to choose the name yourself (e.g., for organized naming).

You type ONLY the name part (before the `@`) in the Recovery Email column. The bot picks the domain and may add a digit (0–9).

**Example:** You type `JohnDoe` in the Recovery Email column → the bot creates `JohnDoe3@domain.com`.

{% hint style="danger" %}
**Only put the name part** (like `JohnDoe`) — do NOT include the `@` or domain. The bot adds those automatically.
{% endhint %}

***

### 3. 🗹 Random Names for Recovery

**When to use this:** You want maximum anonymity and don't care about the name.

The bot generates a completely random name. **Leave the Recovery Email column COMPLETELY empty.**

**Example:** The bot creates something like `xK7mP2q@domain.com`.

{% hint style="danger" %}
**Leave the Recovery Email column COMPLETELY empty** — no spaces, no characters, nothing. Even a single space will confuse the bot.
{% endhint %}

***

### 4. 🗹 Full Address Name for Recovery

**When to use this:** You want to specify the exact email address AND domain, or use an external email like Gmail.

Type the **complete email address** (including `@domain`) in the Recovery Email column.

**Example:** You type `user@specific-domain.org` or `myrecovery@gmail.com`.

{% hint style="warning" %}
If the domain is NOT in your Config file, you MUST set up email forwarding from that address to the IMAP in your Config. Otherwise, the bot can't receive OTP codes and the function will fail.
{% endhint %}

***

## Recovery Types Comparison

| Type             | What You Put in Recovery Email Column | Example Output             | Best For                                    |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------- | -------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| **Email name**   | Nothing (leave empty)                 | `test8@domain.com`         | Quick setup, no manual work                 |
| **Custom names** | Name only (before `@`)                | `JohnDoe3@domain.com`      | Organized naming                            |
| **Random names** | Nothing (leave empty)                 | `xK7mP2q@domain.com`       | Maximum anonymity                           |
| **Full Address** | Complete email address                | `user@specific-domain.org` | Choosing specific domain or external emails |

***

## Important Warnings

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Keep your recovery email data safe.** Outlook doesn't display the full recovery email in account settings, so losing it may make recovery impossible.

Always keep backups of your task file. The bot also saves backups in the **Backups** folder.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="danger" %}
**If the Recovery Email column should be empty — leave it COMPLETELY empty.** No spaces, no dots, no dashes, nothing. Even a single invisible character will cause errors.
{% endhint %}

***

## OTP Timeout — `WaitOTPCountMin`

This setting controls how long the bot waits for an OTP code before retrying.

**Default: 15 minutes.**

{% hint style="info" %}
**How it works:** The bot waits the set amount of time for the OTP code to arrive. If no code comes within that time, it tries again. Each account gets **3 attempts** total. After 3 failed attempts, the bot logs **"OTP didn't come"** for that account — 👉 [Errors & Info](/guide/modules/outlook-hotmail/errors-and-info.md).
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="success" %}
**When to increase this value:** If your IMAP server is slow or overloaded, OTP codes may arrive late. Increase `WaitOTPCountMin` to give the bot more time to wait between retries.
{% endhint %}

***

## Common Mistakes

{% hint style="danger" %}

* ❌ Not having IMAP set up in Config file (the bot can't read OTP codes)
* ❌ Not having domains linked to your IMAP via catch-all
* ❌ Putting a full email address when using "Custom names" type (only put the name part!)
* ❌ Leaving a space in the Recovery Email column when it should be empty
* ❌ Using more than 1000 emails per domain at once (causes mail system overload)
* ❌ Losing recovery email data (always keep backups!)
  {% endhint %}