Microsoft Removes User’s Baby Photos Instead of Recovering Hacked Account

Microsoft seems to be on a roll, racking up missteps that could easily earn it the title of the most disliked gaming company in recent years. This time, instead of laying off developers or leaving beloved studios in limbo, it has permanently deleted a 25-year-old account belonging to Joshua Khane. According to reports, Khane’s account was hacked, prompting him to reach out to Microsoft support for assistance.

In response, Microsoft acknowledged that he was the legitimate owner of the account. However, due to changes in security information, they stated that, in line with their terms of service, his account would be permanently suspended.

“25 years of data, thousands of euros spent on games?? My son’s baby pictures? GONE!” Khane expressed in a post on X.

Microsoft DELETED my account AND OneDrive!!?? After ACKNOWLEDGING that I’m the owner of the account and that it was compromised???

25 years of data, thousands of euros spent on games?? My son’s baby pictures? GONE!

All because MICROSOFT couldn’t bring back a…pic.twitter.com/sItv5eQFAQ

— Joshua Khane (@JoshuaKhane) July 14, 2026

Was it really necessary for Microsoft to wipe a user’s entire digital library when there have been recent instances of the company restoring hacked accounts? Just earlier this month, a man in Brazil sued Microsoft after being told they couldn’t recover his hacked account and that he would need to repurchase his lost games. He won the case, and Microsoft was ordered to restore his account, though it’s unclear if that has been completed. While consumer protections in Brazil are stricter than in many other regions, it seems like a misstep to invite such negative attention when a straightforward solution was available.

In response to Khane’s post, Microsoft apologized for the account deletion and stated they are working on restoring access to his purchases. Let’s hope he can recover those baby pictures, too.