Where do I find my Hotmail account?

For millions of people around the world, Microsoft's Hotmail was their first online address. It was where they sent emails and received replies from friends or family members. But now it looks like all those memories are about to be wiped out forever. 

In 2021, Microsoft announced that it would stop supporting its older services including Hotmail, MSN Messenger, Windows Live Mail, Xbox Live, OneDrive, and Skype. As a result, if you want to use these services on any computer other than an official one running Office 365, you're going to need to set them up again. And for some users this means signing back into the original accounts on another service like Gmail, Yahoo Mail, or even Apple iCloud.

Hotmail has been replaced by Outlook as part of Office 365 but there’s no easy way to get back into your previous account. So what should you do instead? Here we'll explain how you can move forward without losing track of your old email addresses...

Why can't I find my Hotmail account?

If you've never signed up for the Hotmail website before then chances are good that you don't have much recollection of having done so. This makes finding your account more difficult because most people won't remember the exact details of when they created their account. If you can't remember exactly which day you used the site, then it might seem impossible to locate your account.

But fear not! There is hope. You just need to know where the website is located. The easiest place to start is at www.hotmail.com/login. By default, this will take you to the sign-in page for your current email provider (Gmail, etc.). However, if you already had a Hotmail account when you switched over to using Google Apps, then you should be able to log in here.

The next step is to add a secondary email address to your profile. To do this, click Add an Account and choose Email Address from the list. Enter your primary email address and select Sign In Now. Finally, enter your password.

Once logged in, you should see your primary email address listed near the top - click on it to switch between the two. Then simply follow the instructions above to create a new Hotmail account.

Why can't I access my Hotmail account?

So far, we've looked at several potential solutions for getting back into your Hotmail account after switching away from it. Unfortunately, none of these methods work perfectly. They either require too much effort or fail completely. That said, there is one method that could help you regain control of your Hotmail account.

At least, it works well enough for many users. All you need to do is open up the Hotmail website in your browser and type in your username followed by @hotmail.com. At the same time, make sure your phone number isn’t saved under your username in case something goes wrong.

When you sign into your account, you should receive a code via text message. Once you input this code into the appropriate box, you'll gain full access to your inbox. Keep in mind that this doesn’t necessarily mean that you'll have access to every single piece of information stored within your mailbox. Most likely you'll have limited access to files such as images and documents.

How to Find Your Old Emails Using Gmail [Broken URL Removed]

You may also try searching for "Hotmail" + "Password". Alternatively, you could try resetting your password using the steps outlined below. These options aren't ideal, however, since we recommend signing in using your existing credentials whenever possible.

Where did my Hotmail account go?

Microsoft stopped offering free storage space with Hotmail long ago. Instead, it offered 5GB of cloud storage for $99 per year. After paying for the extra space, you were expected to check off a few boxes stating that you didn't wish to store private data on third party servers. While this sounds great in theory, in practice, the company failed to keep your data secure.

As a result, hackers gained access to user names, passwords, messages, and photos. Eventually, Microsoft admitted that it had lost personal data belonging to hundreds of thousands of customers. Since then, the company has tried hard to fix things.

Since 2013, the company has changed policies regarding data security and privacy. For instance, it recently started requiring employees to turn on two-factor authentication on their devices. Users who opted out of the feature weren't allowed to continue working at the company until they turned it on.

On August 1st 2020, Microsoft finally launched the successor to Hotmail called Outlook. What does this mean for us Hotmail users? Well, the short answer is nothing really. We're unlikely to ever hear anything related to Hotmail again unless Microsoft decides to change course once more.

Does Hotmail still exist 2022?

It seems unlikely that Microsoft will revive Hotmail anytime soon. Although there hasn’t been a formal announcement yet, the company appears to be focusing on building a better version of Outlook rather than trying to bring Hotmail back from the dead.

That being said, Microsoft has confirmed that it plans to offer support for Hotmail until October 2025. During this period, users will be able to connect their Hotmail account to their Microsoft account. From there, they’ll automatically receive updates to both platforms.

While this solution brings Hotmail closer to extinction, it’s important to note that most of our readers probably wouldn’t be interested in keeping the aging platform alive. Many of us moved onto Gmail years ago and would prefer to stick with our preferred service.

However, if you’re desperate to reconnect with your old Hotmail account, you can always send a letter to the former president of the company asking him to restore access to your account. He’s bound to listen to requests made by his own staff, right?

What's in a name?

Hotmail has been replaced by Outlook as Microsoft's email service for consumers. For some users who have already upgraded to the latest version of Office 365 ProPlus (Office 2016), you may wonder what happened to your existing Hotmail account.

"Outlook" doesn't sound too bad, right? Well, there's more to it than meets the eye. You see, "outlook" isn't just another word that could describe how someone looks at something - it also refers to an entire organization. And this time we're talking about Microsoft's business operations. We'll get into that later on.

In short, if you use any version of Windows 10 Home or Professional, you can no longer log onto your Hotmail account using the standard username/password combination. Instead, you must create a unique password before being able to sign in again. If you were hoping that Microsoft would restore the functionality of the original Hotmail login page, then think again. In fact, you won't even be able to view any Hotmail-related data anymore under the new system.

Of course, not everyone will want to give up such an important piece of information -- especially when it comes to signing in with secure passwords. What happens next depends on whether you've used Windows 8 or newer operating systems. Let's start off with Windows 7 and move forward to Windows 10.

Windows 7

If you've been using Microsoft's free service, Windows Live Mail (or Hotmail for those of us who are still stuck in 1999), then you'll probably be disappointed that it no longer exists. The good news is we're here to help! We have a guide full of tips and tricks so you can get back into your inbox without breaking a sweat.

You may recall hearing about this changeover over six years ago when Hotmail announced its closure. While other services like Gmail or Yahoo were quickly filling the gap, many people didn't really know what was going on until they got an official confirmation from Microsoft itself. It turns out Hotmail isn't dead yet -- just rebranded as Outlook.com.

So let's take a look at where you might go if you want to continue using your Hotmail account. If you don't see yourself listed below, there's always Facebook Messenger which will allow you to chat with friends and family while avoiding all the spammy emails. And if you'd rather not use any third-party apps, there's always Outlook Web Access (OWA) built directly into Office 365. Here's everything you need to know about OWA.

How can I check my Hotmail in Outlook?

When you log into your Hotmail account today via your browser, or even via mobile devices such as Android or iOS, you'll notice something different. Instead of seeing your usual inbox filled with messages, there's now a button called "Inbox" next to every message. Clicking this lets you view recent mail, but also manage your entire inbox. This gives you more control than ever before.

But if you would prefer to keep things simple, you can also open up your Hotmail inbox inside the Outlook desktop client. Just head to File - Account Settings - Email Accounts and click Manage accounts. Then scroll down and select the Hotmail option under Other providers. You should now see your inbox displayed within Outlook.

Now you can perform all the same actions you used to on the website including adding contacts, creating folders, sending newsletters, etc. But if you're looking for another way to send a message, you can simply right-click on the contact or folder you wish to edit, choose Send E-Mail Message and follow the instructions.

Can I access my Hotmail account through Outlook?

It doesn't matter whether you're accessing your Hotmail account through the website, via the browser extension, or through the desktop application, you'll always end up being sent to the homepage if you haven't logged in recently. So unless you've set up automatic sign-in, you won't actually be able to read any of the messages in your inbox.

However, you could easily switch between these methods depending on your preference. For example, if the browser extension method works best for you, you can save some time by signing in automatically whenever you visit the site. Alternatively, if you regularly use the desktop version of Outlook, you can enable automatic sign-ins for each individual account. Head to File - Account Settings - Sign In Options and select the appropriate box next to each provider.

Once again, you'll see two options available: Automatic sign-in and Manual sign-in. With the first setting enabled, you can enter your username and password once and immediately start reading your mailbox. Whereas with manual sign-ins, you must manually input your credentials every single time you launch Outlook.

How do I access my Microsoft Hotmail account?

Even though Hotmail has officially closed, plenty of users still remember their online address. If you can't seem to locate yours anywhere, try searching our list of top websites to find the one closest to you. There's also a chance that your current employer uses Hotmail, too. You can usually find this information on your HR page.

Alternatively, you could search for your email address using Google or Bing. Once you've found it, copy and paste it into the relevant field on the registration form. You can also add extra details like your phone number if required. After entering your details, hit Next Step and wait for an automated response telling you that your account has been created successfully.

On the following screen, you'll see an option to link your existing social media profiles to your account. Don't worry if you don't already have anything linked, because you can create new ones later. Simply press Continue and you'll be taken straight to your dashboard where you can begin managing your inbox.

From here, you can create subfolders, view your calendar, and reply to messages. To avoid missing important notifications, you can turn on push alerts. This means that anytime someone sends you a message, Outlook will alert you straight away. You can also adjust these settings based on your preferences.

How do I check my email on Outlook?

To access your email on Outlook, click Start - All Programs - Microsoft Outlook. From here, you can either navigate to your inbox, or head to the menu bar above the main window. Choose More - View Online and you'll be transported to your profile page.

This shows you all the latest activity related to your account, including incoming messages, unread labels, and missed calls. At the bottom, you'll see buttons for opening the compose window, composing a new message, replying to an existing one, viewing your Sent Items history, and checking your Junk/Spam folders.

Finally, if you want to delete your account completely, you can head to Tools - Account Actions - Delete account and confirm the deletion process. When done, Outlook will show you a success message and remove all traces of your existence.

How do I stop receiving unwanted email?

While most of us enjoy getting lots of unsolicited junk mail, sometimes we feel overwhelmed by it. Fortunately, Outlook makes it easy to filter out certain categories of messages. First off, you can configure your filters to block specific addresses. These include both personal and business contacts.

Then, if you want to receive less marketing material, you can opt to hide promotional offers in the Promotions section. By default, this includes direct marketing campaigns. However, you can customize this further to exclude messages from certain companies or brands. For instance, you can specify that you don't want to hear about deals from Amazon or Starbucks.

For those times when you want to stay fully connected, you can disable the auto-referral feature altogether. Under General tab, you'll see three sections labeled Referrals, Auto referrals and Personalize. Select the last choice and you can decide whether or not to receive personalized recommendations.

Finally, if you're tired of seeing ads everywhere, you can make sure that none appear in the sidebar. Head to Sidebar & Layout tab and then untick Hide adverts from this panel. Now when you hover over the links, you won't see any popups trying to sell you stuff.

How do I access my Hotmail account on my iPhone?

Since Apple removed support for POP3 mailboxes in 2016, there are currently no native ways to access your Hotmail account on your iPhone. Luckily, however, you can connect to your inbox using alternative solutions. One popular solution is Zapier.

Just type in your email address and tap Connect to bring up your options. If you want to download the free app, Tap Download App, otherwise you can skip ahead to the next step.

Next, select Create New Service and give your service a title. Give it a description describing why you’d like to integrate it with your Hotmail account. Finally, pick the fields you want to sync from Hotmail and select Save.

Your Hotmail account data gets uploaded to your chosen tool and ready to use. The great thing about this integration is that you can add additional tools to work with your inbox from wherever you happen to be. For example, you can also upload files to Dropbox and share them with others.

Another useful tool worth mentioning is Flowy. Unlike the aforementioned alternatives, Flowy requires you to install an app on your computer, which allows you to scan documents, attach photos, sort emails, schedule meetings, and much more. After installing the software, you'll need to register for an account.

Afterwards, you'll need to fill out a few forms explaining why you would like to use the platform. Once approved, you'll be given permission to import your Hotmail account. As long as you've entered your username correctly, the rest of the setup process should be straightforward.

How do I reset my Hotmail password?

Hotmail passwords tend to be quite complex, making them difficult to remember. Thankfully, however, there's a quick way to regain access to your account if you forget your password.

Head to Password Reset and click Get Started. Follow the steps outlined in the wizard and you'll soon be signed in again.

Of course, this only works if you forgot your password in the first place. Otherwise, you can ask Hotmail staff to retrieve it for you instead. Head to Contact Us and describe your problem. Someone will reach out shortly after to assist you.

How do I restore my Hotmail account?

Hotmail has been around for a long time and Microsoft was one of the first companies to offer free email accounts in 1997. It's not just about saving money as you'll get 30GB of space for free when signing up (now it's 100GB). You also get all sorts of features like online shopping, music streaming from Spotify or Pandora, and even Xbox Live gaming on your computer.

The service has changed over the years but its core values have remained the same – security, reliability, simplicity and speed. But what happens if an email address becomes inactive or lost? Is there any hope of getting back into your old Hotmail account? Here we explain where exactly you can locate your Hotmail account and get set up again, should that happen.

If you're looking to switch away from Gmail entirely then Hotmail might be worth checking out too. Read our guide to switching between different email providers below.

Is Hotmail going to be discontinued?

It seems unlikely at this stage. There are no signs of discontinuation yet, although it could become harder to register accounts once the transition to Office 365 takes place across Europe in 2021. In April 2020, Microsoft announced they would close down their European customer support services due to "a significant decrease in demand". However, it doesn’t mean the end of Hotmail altogether.

Microsoft states that in the future, “we will continue to invest in Hotmail to ensure that users experience good performance and value.” This means more updates, improvements and fixes which may eventually lead to some sort of migration path to another platform. As such, there isn't much point in trying to log into a dead Hotmail account anymore. What you need to know instead is whether you can access your Hotmail account via Outlook 2022.

Are Hotmail email addresses still valid?

Yes! You can use your current Hotmail email address without fear of being blacklisted or banned. If you've registered before September 2018, you won't see any issues using your existing credentials because these were never tied to your real identity anyway.

However, if you signed up after October 2018, you'll probably want to consider changing the password immediately so that nobody else uses your email address.

What is Hotmail now called?

In May 2019, Microsoft renamed its free email offering from Hotmail to OneDrive Mail. At the time, Microsoft said the move "reflects the company's commitment to providing people faster ways to share important moments."

As part of the rebranding process, Microsoft had already removed the 'hot' prefix from the term 'Hotmail'. While the previous version of Hotmail used the word 'hot', the new OneDrive Mail does feature a picture of a fire. So while the name itself hasn't really changed, the focus on sharing events rather than productivity makes sense.

One thing to note though is that the new branding appears to be region-specific. Some countries, including New Zealand, Japan, Thailand and Malaysia, are still referred to as Hotmail.

Can I change my Hotmail to Outlook 2022?

Unfortunately, no. According to Microsoft, there aren’t plans to migrate Hotmail users to Outlook 2022 anytime soon. Instead, you can try creating a brand new Outlook.com account and transferring data from your old Hotmail mailbox. Or, if you don't mind paying extra, you can purchase a subscription to OneDrive Premium ($5 per month) or Business Basic ($10 per user per month), which includes 25GB storage plus unlimited file transfers.

You can read more about migrating emails here.

We understand that many people love Hotmail and hate seeing it disappear. And yes, it looks likely that it will be replaced by something completely different in the near future. For example, Microsoft recently revealed that they plan to replace Windows 10 with Redstone 5 later this year. We wouldn't expect them to give us any hints about what replaces Hotmail until closer to the launch date.

But in the meantime, you shouldn't lose heart. Just make sure you keep copies of all your passwords everywhere and check regularly to make sure everything works properly. Then take control of your own privacy and stop letting big tech track you wherever you go.

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Our best VPN picks for protecting your privacy during lockdown

And how to stay safe on public Wi-Fi networks

How to get back into your email

If you're having trouble finding your old Hotmail address, here are some tips that will help.

Try searching with Google for "hotmail login". A link may come up if there have been any changes to your account.

Check out the links below - they might be able to help!

You can try using an alternative browser such as Firefox or Chrome to see what happens when accessing your profile directly.

Use another device and sign-in with this instead of your desktop PC.

Download Windows 8/8.1 Update 3 from Microsoft Store [Broken URL Removed]

Go to Settings > Accounts & sync > Sign-In options and select Use different browsers to log in.

Click Change which browser you use to log in then choose Internet Explorer 11.

Enter your username and password then click Log In.

These methods should work but sometimes things don't go according to plan. If none of these ideas work for you, you could always call Microsoft support at 1-800-932-6734. They will probably ask you questions like why did you stop using your email service, so make sure you have a good reason before giving them details. Also check out our guide to fixing common problems with Windows 10.

What if you can't remember your password?

You've probably heard that there are multiple ways to reset your password but what happens if you have forgotten how to log into your own account? If you're using an alternative browser then chances are good that you don't know where your Hotmail login information resides.

If you use Internet Explorer 6, 7, 8 or 9 then you may be able to recover your Web site passwords by visiting http://accounts.live.com/login.aspx. This will take you back to the homepage of Microsoft Accounts where you can change any personal information associated with your account such as name, address, phone number, etc.

The problem is that this page doesn't work unless you're logged into your account which means you won't be able to see anything until you log back into it.

For those of us who still use older versions of IE we need another method. In fact, some sites require browsers newer than version 11 so you might want to upgrade anyway. Here's how to check out your login credentials.

Head over to www.hotmail.com

Click "Sign in" at the top right corner of the screen

On the next page click "Get Started Now", enter your username and click Sign Up

When prompted type in your date of birth, country, zip code and last four digits of your social security number

After entering these details click Next Step

Enter your current e-mail address and select whether you'd like to receive promotional offers via SMS text message and click Continue

Now you'll be asked to create a secure PIN. Make sure you write down your PIN because you must keep it safe!

Once again click "Next Step" and select Create Account

At this point, you should notice a box pop up asking you to confirm your account creation. Click Yes, sign me up and follow the rest of the instructions provided.

You should now be taken directly to the Hotmail Login Page. Go ahead and sign in, no matter what kind of browser you used to register your account. Once you're signed in head over to your profile settings section.

Go to Personal Information and scroll down until you come across Profile Settings. From here you can view your contact list, edit your contacts preferences, update your location, add additional photos, upload documents and more.