@Cem R Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A community.
That sounds incredibly frustrating, and I completely understand why you’re at your wit’s end. Having access locked away behind an outdated recovery email is an awful predicament, especially when your Azure account is still active and holding important data.
Here are a few potential paths forward:
- Microsoft Account Recovery Form – Even though you don’t have access to the backup email, you may still be able to recover the account using Microsoft's account recovery form. You’ll need to provide as much information as possible about the account, such as previous passwords, associated billing details, and services tied to it.
- Azure Support Request (Without Paid Plan) – I know you've been struggling with Microsoft Support, but you might have better luck submitting an official request via the Azure support portal. Even if you're not on a paid support plan, Microsoft does provide account recovery assistance for free under certain circumstances. Try selecting technical support and look for options related to account access issues.
- Business Verification & Ownership Proof – Since your Azure account was originally set up by a freelancer, Microsoft may require some form of business verification or ownership proof before allowing a recovery option. If you have invoices, subscription details, or any account-associated documents, these could be helpful when contacting support.
- Alternative Microsoft Contacts – If chat support hasn’t been helpful, consider reaching out through other official channels, such as:
- Microsoft’s Twitter/X support handle (@MicrosoftHelps)
- Posting your issue on the Microsoft Tech Community (https://techcommunity.microsoft.com)—sometimes engineers or moderators can intervene.
- Escalation via Microsoft Support Forums – If your direct support requests haven’t led to success, sometimes posting your situation in the Azure support community forums can push Microsoft to take action when moderators or other users suggest specific escalation steps. I get that you don’t need a subscription—just someone to help get this resolved efficiently. Try the recovery form first, then push Microsoft support for identity verification steps. I hope these helps. Let me know if you have any further questions or need additional assistance. Also if these answers your query, do click the "Upvote" and click "Accept the answer" of which might be beneficial to other community members reading this thread.