If you’ve ever lost access to the email linked to your Honkai: Star Rail account, or switched to a new primary email you check more often, you already know how stressful it can be to worry about losing your years of progress, limited 5-star characters, and event rewards. Figuring out how to change email on Honkai Star Rail doesn’t have to be a confusing process, though, even if you’ve never adjusted your HoYoverse account settings before. I’ve walked through this process myself twice in the last year, once when I switched from a school email to a personal one, and once when my old email got hacked, so I’m sharing all the steps I used, plus the common mistakes to skip so you don’t get locked out of your account accidentally.
Pre-requisites to change email on Honkai Star Rail before you start
Before you jump into changing your linked email, there are a few key things you need to have on hand to avoid hitting a wall halfway through the process. First, you need access to your current linked email address for verification, unless you’re submitting a request for a lost account, which we’ll cover later. Second, you need to be able to log into your Honkai: Star Rail account either through the game launcher, the HoYoverse website, or the HoYolab app, depending on which platform you prefer to use.
Third, your new email address can’t already be linked to another existing HoYoverse account, so make sure you haven’t used it for a Genshin Impact, Zenless Zone Zero, or Tears of Themis account in the past. You also want to make sure your new email is one you check regularly, since this is the primary method HoYoverse will use to contact you about account security alerts, event rewards, and ban appeals if you ever need them. I made the mistake of trying to use a throwaway email for this once, and I ended up having to switch again two months later when I forgot the password to the throwaway account, so save yourself the hassle and pick a permanent, frequently used email.
Step-by-step process to update your linked Honkai: Star Rail email
The easiest way to update your email is through the official HoYoverse account management website, since it works the same for all players regardless of whether you play on PC, mobile, or PlayStation. I prefer this method over the in-game settings because it’s less likely to glitch if you have a spotty internet connection mid-process. Here’s exactly what to do:
- Head to the official HoYoverse account management page and log in with your current Honkai: Star Rail account credentials
- Find the Account Security Settings tab on the left-hand side of the screen, then select the “Email” option from the list of linked contact methods
- Click “Change” next to your current email address, then enter the verification code that gets sent to your existing linked email to confirm your identity
- Enter your new email address, then submit the verification code that gets sent to the new email to confirm you have access to it
- Save your changes, then log out and log back in once to make sure the update went through successfully
The whole process takes less than 5 minutes if you have both emails open and ready to receive verification codes. That said, if you don’t get a verification code within 2 minutes, check your spam or junk folder first, because HoYoverse’s automated emails often get filtered there by Gmail and Outlook. If you still don’t get the code, you can request a resend every 60 seconds, but don’t spam the button or you might get temporarily blocked from requesting new codes for 15 minutes.
What to do if you don’t have access to your old linked email
Sometimes, you might need to change your linked email because you lost access to the old one—whether it got deleted, hacked, or you forgot the password entirely after not using it for years. HoYoverse does have a process for this, but it’s a bit more involved than the standard change, so you’ll need to have proof of account ownership ready. First, you’ll need to submit an account recovery request through the official HoYoverse support page, specifically for Honkai: Star Rail.
You’ll be asked to provide as much information as possible to prove the account is yours, including your account UID, the date you created the account, the first 5-star character you pulled, your most recent purchase receipts if you’ve ever spent money on the game, and any other linked contact methods like a phone number or social media account. It usually takes between 1 and 3 business days for HoYoverse support to review your request, but it can take longer if you don’t provide enough proof of ownership, and you don’t have to pay any fee to submit an account recovery request, no matter what random accounts online tell you.
I’ve seen players get their requests rejected because they only provided their UID and no other information, so make sure you include every detail you can remember to speed up the process. If your request is approved, support will send a link to your new email address to set it as the primary contact for your account, and your old email will be unlinked automatically.
Key security tips after you update your linked email
Once you’ve successfully updated your linked email, there are a few extra steps you should take to make sure your account stays secure long-term, so you don’t have to go through this process again unnecessarily. First, make sure you enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on both your new email account and your HoYoverse account. This adds an extra layer of security that makes it almost impossible for hackers to get access to your account, even if they get your password somehow.
Second, don’t share your email address or account credentials with anyone, even people who claim to be giving out free Stellar Jades or limited event characters. Most of these offers are scams designed to steal your account, and HoYoverse will never ask you for your password or email verification code through private messages. Third, set a reminder to check your linked email once every couple of months to make sure you still have access to it, and to review any security alerts from HoYoverse. If you ever get an alert that someone tried to log into your account from a location you don’t recognize, change your password immediately, and double-check that your linked email and phone number are still correct. I also recommend adding a recovery phone number to your HoYoverse account if you haven’t already, since it’s much faster to reset your password or change your email if you have a linked phone number as a backup.
Changing your linked account email doesn’t have to be a frustrating process, as long as you follow the official steps and have the right information ready before you start. Whether you’re switching to a new personal email, lost access to your old one, or just want to improve your account security, taking the time to learn how to change email on Honkai Star Rail is a small task that can save you a ton of stress down the line if you ever run into account access issues. If you hit any snags during the process, don’t hesitate to reach out to HoYoverse support with as much account information as you can, and they’ll help you sort it out as quickly as possible.
