The fastest way to get into Hotmail

Go to outlook.com in your web browser and sign in with your email address and password. Hotmail accounts merged with Microsoft Outlook years ago, so you no longer log in at a separate Hotmail site — Microsoft consolidated all personal email into Outlook. If you remember your Hotmail address but forgot the password, use the "Can't access your account" link on the sign-in page to reset it.

If you use Hotmail on your phone or tablet, you can also open the Outlook app (available free on iPhone, Android, and iPad) and sign in there. The app syncs with your web account, so emails you read on your phone show as read on your computer, and vice versa.

You do not need to read anything or create a new account. Your existing Hotmail address still works exactly as it did before the merger — the login location just changed to Outlook.

Key Takeaways

  • Hotmail accounts now log in through outlook.com, not a separate Hotmail website.
  • You use the same email address and password you always have — nothing about your account changed except where you sign in.
  • If you forgot your password, the "Can't access your account" link on the sign-in page walks you through resetting it using your phone number or backup email.
  • The Outlook app on your phone or tablet syncs with your web account so your emails stay current across all devices.
  • Two-factor authentication (a security code sent to your phone) adds a layer of protection if someone else knows your password.

Resetting a forgotten password

Click "Can't access your account" below the sign-in box on outlook.com. Microsoft will ask you to enter your email address, then show you two options: verify with a phone number on file, or verify with a backup email address you set up previously. Choose whichever one you have access to right now.

If you chose phone verification, Microsoft texts a code to that number. Enter the code on the next screen. If you chose email verification, check your backup email inbox for a link from Microsoft and click it. Either way, you will then be asked to create a new password — make it something you have not used before, and write it down somewhere safe.

If neither your phone number nor your backup email works, or if you cannot remember which phone number or email you registered, you will need to contact Microsoft support directly. They can verify your identity through security questions or other methods, but this takes longer than the automated reset.

Setting up two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication means Microsoft sends a code to your phone every time someone (including you) tries to sign in from a new device. This stops someone who has your password from getting in unless they also have your phone.

To turn it on, sign into outlook.com, click your profile picture in the top right corner, and select "View account." Click "Security" on the left side, then find "Two-step verification" and click "Set it up." Microsoft will ask you to enter your phone number and confirm it by texting you a code. After you enter that code, two-factor authentication is active.

From that point forward, when you sign in on a new device, you will see a screen asking for a code. Check your phone for a text message from Microsoft with that code and enter it. Once you enter it correctly, that device is trusted and you will not need a code the next time you sign in from that same device.

Accessing Hotmail on your phone or tablet

read the Outlook app from the Apple App Store (if you use iPhone or iPad) or Google Play (if you use Android). Open the app, tap "Add account," and enter your Hotmail email address and password. The app will connect to your account and start showing your emails.

The Outlook app is the official Microsoft email app for phones and tablets. It works the same way as the web version — you can read, write, and delete emails, and everything syncs across your devices. If you read an email on your phone, it shows as read when you open Outlook on your computer.

You can add multiple email accounts to the Outlook app if you have more than one. Tap your profile picture, select "Settings," then "Add account" and enter the next email address and password. The app will show all your accounts in one place.

What to do if you cannot sign in

First, make sure you are going to outlook.com, not an old Hotmail address or a phishing site that looks similar. Type the address directly into your browser rather than clicking a link in an email — scammers sometimes send fake sign-in pages that steal your password.

If you are on the real outlook.com and your password is not working, use the "Can't access your account" link to reset it (see the section above). If you reset your password and still cannot sign in, clear your browser's cache and cookies, then try again in a different browser. Sometimes old login information stored on your computer interferes with signing in.

If you have tried all of that and still cannot get in, contact Microsoft support. They can check whether your account has been locked for security reasons or if there is a technical problem on their end.

Recovering a hacked or locked account

If you think someone else has accessed your account, change your password when ready using the reset process described above. Then sign into outlook.com, go to "View account," click "Security," and review the list of devices that have recently signed in. If you see a device you do not recognize, click it and select "Remove this device."

Check your account recovery information while you are there — make sure your backup email and phone number are still correct. If someone changed them, change them back. This prevents an attacker from locking you out by changing your recovery options.

If your account is locked and you cannot reset your password, Microsoft may have detected suspicious activity and temporarily blocked access. Go to the account recovery page at account.live.com/password/reset and follow the steps to verify your identity. This usually takes a few minutes, and your account will unlock once you complete verification.

Using Hotmail with other email programs

You can read your Hotmail emails in other programs like Apple Mail, Gmail, Thunderbird, or Outlook for Windows — you do not have to use the web version or the Outlook app. To do this, you need to generate an app password, which is different from your regular password and works only with outside programs.

Sign into outlook.com, go to "View account," click "Security," and find "App passwords." Select your device type and email program from the dropdown menus, and Microsoft will generate a 16-character password. Copy that password and paste it into the other email program when it asks for your password. Use your full Hotmail email address as the username.

App passwords are safer than giving other programs your real password because you can delete an app password without changing your main password. If you stop using a program, delete its app password so it cannot access your account anymore.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Microsoft account to use Hotmail?

Your Hotmail account is a Microsoft account — they are the same thing. When Microsoft merged Hotmail into Outlook, they made every Hotmail address a Microsoft account automatically. You do not need to create anything separate.

Can I still use my old Hotmail address?

Yes. Your Hotmail email address works exactly as it did before. The only thing that changed is where you sign in — you now go to outlook.com instead of hotmail.com. Your address, your emails, and your contacts are all still there.

What if I have not signed into Hotmail in years?

Your account may still exist, but Microsoft sometimes closes accounts that have not been used for a long time. Try signing in at outlook.com with your email address and password. If it does not work, use the "Can't access your account" link to reset your password. If that does not work either, contact Microsoft support — they can tell you whether the account is still active.

Is it safe to use Hotmail for important accounts?

Hotmail is as safe as any major email provider, but you should turn on two-factor authentication for any email account you use to recover passwords for banking, social media, or other important services. If someone gets into your email, they can reset passwords for those other accounts, so protecting your email is critical.

Can I transfer my Hotmail to a different email provider?

Yes. You can read all your emails from Outlook using the export feature, or you can set up email forwarding so new messages go to your new address. Go to "View account," click "Mail," find "Forwarding," and enter your new email address. Microsoft will send a confirmation link to that address — click it to turn on forwarding.