If you haven’t yet created a Hotmail account on outlook.com, use our Hotmail sign up page instead for a guide to get started.
Below, you will find a step-by-step guide on signing into Hotmail which is now accessed through Outlook.com and owned by Microsoft.
How Do I Login Into Hotmail (Outlook) On Desktop / Laptop
- Go to Hotmail’s outlook login page linked here https://outlook.live.com/owa/ and click the ‘sign in’ button the top right corner of the screen. You can also use your Skype id or phone number to sign in as an alternative.
- Enter your password and click ‘Sign In’.
- The next screen will ask if you want to stay signed in so you can avoid entering your Hotmail email sign-in details each time. This should be avoided if you are on a shared on public computer of privacy. Click Yes or No.
You should then be fully logged in to the Hotmail (Outlook.com) user interface.
Other Hotmail Sign In Options
There is also an option to sign in to Hotmail without your username or password.
Some users prefer this instead of having to remember passwords.
This is done with a security key which is a physical gadget like a USB key or NFC device (smartphone). This security key verification as a Hotmail sign-in option can be set up on your Microsoft account security page.
You can also link an existing Github account to your Hotmail account and use that as a single login method on your personal Microsoft account.
Old Hotmail Account Sign In Problems
If you have not tried to access your old Hotmail email (Microsoft) account for a long period, you need to be aware of Microsoft’s inactivity policy:
- You need to sign into your Hotmail or outlook account at least once in a 2 year period or else Microsoft automatically close your account due to inactivity.
- You will not be able to reuse the same deleted Hotmail email address once the account is closed. This is to stop spammers and hackers from using the account.
- Your Hotmail or Outlook.com will not close for inactivity if you have an ongoing membership or an unspent balance with Microsoft.
If you access your Hotmail email less than 2 years ago, here are some reasons you could be having issues signing in:
- Username / password do not match – double-check you have input the correct email/username and password. In your spell check, make sure caps lock isn’t on as hotmail.com passwords are case sensitive.
- If you need to do two-step verification, make sure the phone number outlook.com or Microsoft is using matches your phone number. Be aware of Hotmail spam texts in this instance as they are common.
- Make sure there are no issues with Microsoft’s server by checking the server status.
