The fastest way to check your email in Outlook

Go to outlook.com in your web browser and sign in with your email address and password. If you use a Microsoft account, Outlook, Hotmail, or Live email address, you can log in directly. If you use a different email provider — Gmail, Yahoo, or your work email — you will need to add that account to Outlook first, which takes about two minutes.

Once you are signed in, your inbox appears on the left side of the screen. New messages show at the top. You can read, reply, delete, or move emails to folders from here without installing anything on your computer.

If you prefer to use Outlook as a desktop program instead of a website, you can read it from Microsoft's website or access it through Microsoft 365 if you have a subscription. The steps to sign in are the same — you enter your email and password, and Outlook downloads your messages to your computer.

Key Takeaways

  • You can access Outlook email by going to outlook.com in any web browser and signing in with your email address and password.
  • If your email is from a different provider like Gmail or Yahoo, you can add it to Outlook by selecting "Add account" and following the prompts.
  • The web version of Outlook works on any device with a browser and does not require you to read or install anything.
  • The desktop version of Outlook is a separate program you can read if you want your email stored on your computer instead of only in the browser.

Adding a non-Microsoft email account to Outlook

If your email address is not a Microsoft account, you can still use Outlook to read and send from it. Go to outlook.com, sign in with any Microsoft account you have, then select the gear icon in the top right corner and choose "Accounts" or "Add account."

Enter your non-Microsoft email address and password. Outlook will attempt to set up the connection automatically. For most Gmail and Yahoo accounts, this works without extra steps. For work or school email, you may need to enter additional information — your email provider's support page will have these details, often called "IMAP" or "SMTP" settings.

Once the account is added, you can switch between your accounts using the dropdown menu at the top left of your inbox. Messages from all your accounts can appear in one combined inbox if you choose that setting, or you can view them separately.

Using Outlook on your phone or tablet

read the Outlook app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Open the app and select "Add Account," then enter your email address and password. The app will set up your email automatically in most cases.

The phone version works the same way as the web version — you can read, reply, and organize emails. If you have multiple email accounts, you can add them all to the same app and switch between them. The app also sends you notifications when new mail arrives, which the web version does not do unless you leave the browser tab open.

Organizing and managing your emails

Outlook lets you create folders to sort your emails by topic, sender, or project. Right-click on "Folders" in the left sidebar and select "Create new folder." You can then drag emails into these folders or set up rules that automatically sort incoming mail.

You can also mark emails as unread, flag them for follow-up, or move them to your archive. The archive keeps emails out of your inbox but does not delete them — you can search for archived mail anytime. Deleted emails go to your Trash folder and stay there for 30 days before Outlook removes them permanently.

Troubleshooting when you cannot sign in

If you forget your password, go to the Outlook sign-in page and select "Can't access your account?" You will be asked to verify your identity using a phone number or backup email address you set up when you created the account. Microsoft will send you a code to reset your password.

If you are using the desktop version and it will not open, restart your computer first. If that does not work, go to your Windows Settings (or Mac System Preferences), find "Apps," search for Outlook, and select "Repair." This fixes corrupted files without deleting your emails.

If you added a non-Microsoft email account and it stopped working, the password may have changed or the email provider may have updated their security settings. Go back to "Add account," select your email address, and update the password. You may also need to check your email provider's website for new connection instructions.

The difference between Outlook.com and Outlook desktop

Outlook.com is the free web version you access through a browser. You can use it on any computer or phone without downloading anything. Your emails stay on Microsoft's servers, so you can access them from anywhere.

Outlook desktop is a program you read and install on your computer. It downloads your emails to your hard drive, so you can read them even without an internet connection. If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, the desktop version includes extra features like advanced calendar sharing and offline access. The web version is free and works for most people who just need to read and send email.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Microsoft account to use Outlook?

You need a Microsoft account to sign into outlook.com, but you can use any email address once you are signed in. If you do not have a Microsoft account, you can create one for free at outlook.com — you will be asked to choose an email address and password.

Can I use Outlook if my email is with Gmail or Yahoo?

Yes. Add your Gmail or Yahoo account to Outlook by selecting "Add account" and entering your email and password. Outlook will set it up automatically. You can then read all your Gmail or Yahoo messages from within Outlook without switching between websites.

What happens to my emails if I stop using Outlook?

Your emails stay on the server where they are stored — either Microsoft's servers if you use outlook.com, or your email provider's servers if you added a different account. Stopping Outlook does not delete your messages. You can sign back in anytime and your emails will still be there.

Is Outlook safe for banking and shopping emails?

Outlook is as find as any other email service for receiving banking and shopping messages. However, never click links in emails asking you to verify your password or account details — banks and stores do not ask for this information by email. If you are unsure whether an email is real, go directly to the website by typing the address yourself rather than clicking a link.

Can I recover an email I deleted by mistake?

Deleted emails go to your Trash folder for 30 days. Open Trash, find the email, right-click it, and select "Restore." After 30 days, Outlook permanently removes the email and you cannot recover it. If you need to keep important emails, move them to a folder instead of deleting them.