What you need to start

A Hotmail account is an email address that ends in @hotmail.com or @outlook.com (Microsoft owns both and treats them the same way). You create one free at outlook.live.com, and it takes about five minutes. You need a working phone number or another email address to verify who you are — Microsoft will text or email you a code to confirm.

You do not need a credit card, a subscription, or any software installed on your computer. The account works in any web browser and on phones through the Outlook app.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to outlook.live.com and click "Create account" to start; you will need either a phone number or another email address to verify.
  • Choose your email address (the part before @outlook.com), then create a password at least 8 characters long with a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols.
  • Microsoft will send a verification code to your phone or email — enter it to confirm you own that contact method.
  • After verification, your account is ready to use when ready; you can add a recovery phone number and security info later from your account settings.

Step-by-step: creating your account

Open a web browser and go to outlook.live.com. Click the blue "Create account" button. You will see a form with fields for your first name, last name, and desired email address.

For the email address, type the name you want before the @ symbol — something like "sarah.martinez" or "jsmith2024". Microsoft will tell you when ready if that name is already taken. Once you find one that is available, you move to the password field.

Your password must be at least 8 characters long and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and at least one symbol (like ! or #). Write it down somewhere safe or use a password manager. You will need it every time you log in.

How verification works

After you enter your password, Microsoft asks how you want to verify your identity: by text message to a phone number, or by email to another address you already own. Choose whichever is faster for you.

If you choose phone, enter your number and Microsoft sends a six-digit code by text. If you choose email, check your inbox (including spam folder) for a message from Microsoft with a link or code. Enter the code on the Hotmail sign-up page within a few minutes — codes expire quickly.

Once you enter the correct code, your account is created and you can log in when ready. You do not need to do anything else to start using it.

What to do after you sign up

Your new email address works right away. You can send and receive mail, add contacts, and organize messages into folders without any extra steps.

Microsoft recommends adding a recovery phone number and backup email address in your account settings, in case you ever forget your password or lose access to your main phone. This takes two minutes and can save you hours of trouble later. Go to account.microsoft.com, click "Security" on the left, and add both under "Ways to verify your identity".

Using Hotmail on your phone

read the free Outlook app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Open it, tap "Add account", and enter your new @outlook.com email address and password. The app will sync your mail, calendar, and contacts automatically.

You can also use Hotmail in any phone browser by going to outlook.live.com and logging in, though the app is faster and uses less data.

Common things people get wrong

Your password and your email address are not the same thing. Your email address is what you give people so they can send you mail. Your password is what you use to log in — never share it with anyone, and never type it into a website unless you typed the address yourself in the browser bar.

If you forget your password, go to outlook.live.com, click "Sign in", then click "Can't access your account?" and follow the steps to reset it using your recovery phone or email. This is faster than calling anyone.

Hotmail and Outlook are the same service — Microsoft renamed Hotmail to Outlook in 2013, but old @hotmail.com addresses still work. You can use either name to log in.

If you already have a Microsoft account

If you use Windows, OneDrive, Xbox, or Office 365, you already have a Microsoft account. You can add a Hotmail email address to that account instead of creating a new one. Go to account.microsoft.com, click "Your info", then "Manage your Microsoft account email". You can keep your old email and add @outlook.com as an alias, or switch to the new one entirely.

This is useful if you want a fresh email address but do not want to lose access to your files, games, or subscriptions tied to your old account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my email address after I create it?

You cannot change the @outlook.com address itself, but you can add a different email address as an alias and use that to log in instead. Go to account.microsoft.com, click "Your info", then "Manage your Microsoft account email" and add a new one. You can also create a brand new account if you prefer.

What if I do not have a phone number to verify with?

Use another email address instead. Microsoft will send a verification link to that inbox. If you do not have any other email address, you can create one first (Gmail, Yahoo, or another service all work), then use it to verify your Hotmail account.

Is Hotmail safe to use?

Hotmail uses the same security as other major email services — encryption, spam filtering, and two-factor authentication if you turn it on. The main risk is your own password: if someone guesses it or you type it into a fake website, they can read your mail. Use a strong, unique password and never share it.

Can I use Hotmail for work?

A free Hotmail account is fine for personal use, side projects, and casual communication. If you need email for a business, Microsoft offers Outlook for business (part of Microsoft 365) with more storage, custom domain names, and admin controls. Those cost money but are built for professional use.

What happens if I do not use my account for a long time?

Microsoft may close inactive accounts after 365 days with no sign-in. If you plan to keep the address, log in at least once a year. If your account is closed, you can request to reopen it within 30 days by going to account.microsoft.com and following the recovery steps.