What's the best way to get technical support from Microsoft?

Whenever you are having problems with Windows, Office, Xbox, or another Microsoft product, it may be a good idea to call in the experts, meaning technical support at Microsoft. You should only call customer support after you have visited Microsoft website's FAQ page and tried all the troubleshooting options. When all solutions you can try on your own and failed then it is time to call in the cavalry. It is vital to know that only a customer can initiate technical support communication. If it happens the other way around, it is most probably a scam and you should be wary.

Technical support from Microsoft can be either of two things: self-help support and assisted support. For this reason, there are different Microsoft technical support numbers for different countries. You can find the different numbers in Microsoft's website

Depending on the nature of the problem, you can communicate with Microsoft to get solutions. Of all the avenues offered by Microsoft, the 3 best ways to get technical support from Microsoft are through their telephone number, live chat or email. Each has its benefits and limitations making it very difficult to single out one way as the supreme way. Therefore, we shall look at all three ways and leave you to decide which one to use.

Getting Technical Support by Phone

Getting technical support by phone has the advantage of being swift and comprehensive. Contrarily, the phone numbers are geographically limited to one country. Microsoft's technical support number has an average call hold time of 15 minutes but you can be on hold for up to half an hour. To get technical support from Microsoft by phone, adhere to the following process:

1. Find your product key number. Your Microsoft product key number is specific to your product or device. The key includes 25 alphanumeric characters, presented as 5 groups of 5 characters separated by dashes. A tech support representative should be able to access your account information using the number. It is usually on a label on the original box of your product. The representative can help you locate it if you can't find it.
2. Find your warranty. Locating the warranty that accompanied your product or device should help the tech support representative offer better advice.
3. Launch your browser and log into GetHuman to obtain Microsoft's technical support number and talk to a live agent. Ensure you acquire the number
4. Once you talk to the representative, comprehensively describe your probem and diligently follow the instructions.

Getting Technical Support by Email

Emails provide the opportunity to describe the problem in more detail than any other avenue. However, it should not be used for urgent problems as it may take a while to get a response. To send Microsoft's technical support an email:

1. Open your browser and launch the Get Human page to get technical support's email and follow the link
2. Draft your email and include all relevant information including product key number and warranty information. Include your contact information so that you can get a response as soon as possible
3. Send the email and be patient. You will get an answer soon enough.

Getting Technical Support via Live Chat

Using Microsoft's online portal is slightly slower than using a phone since you have to type but there is no hold time and no charges other than your regular data fees. To access Microsoft's live chat option:

1. Launch your web browser and launch Microsoft's website
2. Click the 'Get Started' button and launch the chat dialog box. You will be connected to a live virtual support agent
3. You can decide to talk to the virtual assistant or ask for a live representative. Choose one
4. Describe your problem as briefly and as precisely as possible providing all the necessary information
5. Follow the instructions provided until the issue is resolved