Hotmail Sign In Guide

How to Sign In to Your Hotmail Account

Hotmail was acquired by Microsoft and rebranded to Outlook.com, but you can still use your existing Hotmail email address. Signing in takes just a few steps on any device.

1. 1

   Go to the sign-in page

   Open your browser and visit www.hotmail.com or login.live.com. Both addresses take you to the official Microsoft sign-in screen.

2. 2

   Enter your email address

   Type your full Hotmail or Outlook email address and click Next.

3. 3

   Enter your password

   Type your account password on the next screen. If you want to stay signed in on this device, check Keep me signed in before clicking Sign in.

4. 4

   Access your inbox

   Once authenticated, you'll land in your inbox where you can read, compose, and manage emails. The interface is modern and smooth, with features that compare favorably to subscription-based providers.

Create a New Hotmail Account

Don't have an account yet? Setting one up is free and takes only a few minutes. Hotmail was one of the pioneering free web-based email services, originally launched by Jack Smith and Sabeer Bhatia in 1995 and acquired by Microsoft in 1997.

1. 1

   Visit the signup page

   Go to signup.live.com or navigate to www.hotmail.com and click Create free account.

2. 2

   Choose your email address

   Pick a new username and select either @hotmail.com or @outlook.com as your domain.

3. 3

   Create a password and fill in details

   Set a strong password and provide your name, country/region, and birth date as prompted.

4. 4

   Verify and finish

   Complete the CAPTCHA or phone verification step, and your new account will be ready to use immediately.

For a more detailed walkthrough, see our full Create Account guide.