MicrosoftAvailable
AZ-900
microsoft.com: What It Is and How to Use It for Exams
Direct answer: microsoft.com is Microsoft's main website, and many official pages sit on subdomains such as learn.microsoft.com. Check the part of the address right before the first single slash to avoid look-alike links. For certification, start with Microsoft Learn, pick one exam, and book it through your Microsoft certification profile.
microsoft.com is the main website of Microsoft. It covers products, downloads, support, account pages and training. Google Trends shows searches for it are rising in the US, with more than 100 searches at the time of writing.
Most people searching it want one of three things: a product page, a safe sign-in or download, or certification information. This guide covers all three, with a focus on staying safe and getting to the right page fast.
How to read a Microsoft address so you do not land on a fake
The domain is the part of the address between https:// and the first single /. Read it from right to left. Whatever sits just before the first single slash decides who owns the page.
Here is a worked example.
Address | Real owner | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
|
| Official Microsoft subdomain |
|
| Official main site |
|
| Fake. Microsoft only appears at the start |
|
| Not Microsoft |
|
| Look-alike. The letters "rn" imitate "m" |
The rule is simple. An official page ends with .microsoft.com or is exactly microsoft.com, directly before the first single slash.
A quick command check
If a shortened or odd link worries you, look at where it leads without opening it in a browser. This prints only the response headers:
curl -sI "https://go.microsoft.com/" | head -n 10Look for a location: line. It shows the next address. Apply the same right-to-left reading to that address.
You may also see links that start with go.microsoft.com. This is a Microsoft subdomain used for redirect links, which is why one appears in search results. Still, only trust it if you reached it from a page you already trust.
Which part of microsoft.com you need
The site is large. Picking the right entry point saves time.
You want to... | Where to start |
|---|---|
Buy or compare Microsoft 365, Windows or Surface |
|
Read technical docs and free training |
|
Manage your Microsoft account and subscriptions |
|
See certifications and exam pages |
|
Get product help |
|
Bookmark the ones you use. Typing a bookmark is safer than clicking a search ad or an emailed link.
If you came here because of the share price, see our explainer on how to read the MSFT quote. Stock data does not live on microsoft.com itself.
Using Microsoft Learn to choose a certification
If your goal is a career move, Microsoft Learn is the most useful part of the site. It hosts free learning paths and the official exam pages. Each exam page lists the skills measured and the study guide for that exam.
A sensible way to choose:
Write down your job target, such as cloud support, security analyst or developer.
Search Microsoft Learn for the certification that matches it.
Open the exam page and read the skills measured list first.
Check your gaps. If more than half the topics are new, start with a fundamentals exam.
Pick one exam only. Do not start two study tracks at once.
If you are new to cloud, the Azure Fundamentals exam is a common first step. You can see our AZ-900 voucher or browse the entry-level and fundamentals category to compare options.
A realistic study plan for a first Microsoft exam
This plan suits a fundamentals-level exam for someone with basic IT knowledge. Adjust it to your own pace. Associate and expert exams usually need more time.
Week | Hours | Focus |
|---|---|---|
1 | 4–5 | Read the exam page. Complete the first free Learn modules |
2 | 4–5 | Finish the remaining modules. Take notes on terms you mix up |
3 | 4–5 | Practice questions. Review every wrong answer, not only the score |
4 | 2–3 | Light review. Book the exam. Check your ID and test setup |
Two habits help most. First, work from the official skills measured list, not from a random video series. Second, open the free sandbox or trial environment when a module offers one. Hands-on practice sticks better than reading.
Common mistakes people make on microsoft.com
Clicking sponsored results. Scam pages often buy ads for "Microsoft support" searches. Go to your bookmark instead.
Trusting a phone number on a pop-up. Microsoft does not show browser alerts asking you to call a number. Close the tab.
Using an old or shared Microsoft account for certification. Your exam history attaches to one profile. Use an account you will keep for years.
Studying from outdated notes. Exam outlines change over time. Check the date on the study guide before you rely on it.
Booking before you check the exam page. Confirm the exam code matches the certification you want.
Redeeming a voucher after you have studied
Microsoft exams are booked from your certification profile on Microsoft Learn, and delivery is handled by an approved test provider. Follow the on-screen steps and enter your voucher code at checkout where payment is requested.
Here is how our side works:
The voucher code is emailed within 12 hours of payment and also appears in your account.
One voucher covers one exam attempt.
You can cancel an order for a full refund before delivery.
A delivered code is non-refundable, unless the test provider rejects it as invalid, already used or expired on first use. In that case, contact support within 14 days with your order number and a screenshot. The code is then replaced or refunded.
Full terms are on our refund page and delivery page. Check the exam booking page for current exam dates and rules before you pay.
What to do after you pass
Your result is tied to your Microsoft certification profile. Add the credential to your resume and professional profile once it appears. Then choose your next step by role, not by habit. A fundamentals pass can lead to an associate exam in the same area.
If you want to keep climbing, our Azure Fundamentals voucher is a good first purchase when you are ready to book.
Sources
Questions about this topic
Is go.microsoft.com a real Microsoft address?
Yes, `go.microsoft.com` is a subdomain of microsoft.com that Microsoft uses for redirect links. Because it only forwards you elsewhere, check where it lands. Read the final domain right to left before you sign in or download anything.
How can I tell if an email from Microsoft is real?
Do not click the link in the email. Open a bookmark for your account page or Microsoft Learn and look for the same notice there. Also check the sender's full domain, since display names are easy to fake.
Do I need a Microsoft account to take a Microsoft certification exam?
Yes. You book the exam from a certification profile linked to a Microsoft account. Use an account you will keep long term, because your exam history stays with it.
Does a voucher from BuyExamVouchers.com work on the Microsoft site?
You enter the voucher code when you pay for the exam booking. If the test provider rejects it as invalid, already used or expired on first use, contact our support within 14 days with your order number and a screenshot. We then replace or refund the code.
Is microsoft.com the place to check the Microsoft share price?
No. Stock quotes come from financial sites and exchanges. Our guide on reading the MSFT quote explains the ticker, price and daily change in plain terms.
