Hotmail Login 2026 — Sign In to Outlook.com (Hotmail)

📧 Hotmail Help · Updated 2026

Hotmail Login — Sign In to Outlook.com

Complete step-by-step guide to sign in to your Hotmail or Outlook account on desktop, Android and iPhone — updated for 2026.

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✍️ theuiaa.org Editorial Team 📅 Updated 30 May 2026 ⏱ 4 min read 📧 Hotmail Login Guide

Hotmail is now Outlook.com — Microsoft rebranded Hotmail to Outlook in 2013, but your @hotmail.com address still works exactly as before. You sign in at outlook.live.com or outlook.com, and your old Hotmail inbox, contacts and settings are all still there.

This guide covers how to log in to Hotmail (Outlook.com) on desktop (browser), Android and iPhone — plus password recovery, 2FA sign-in and troubleshooting for every common error.

ℹ️ Hotmail is now Outlook.com: Microsoft merged Hotmail into Outlook in 2013. Your @hotmail.com, @live.com and @msn.com addresses are all accessed at outlook.live.com. Nothing has been deleted — your email, contacts and folders are all still there.

⚡ Jump to a section

💻 Desktop Login 🤖 Android Login 🍎 iPhone Login 🔑 Forgot Password 📱 2FA Sign-In 🔧 Troubleshooting 🌐 Login URLs ❓ FAQ

Works on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari and all major browsers on Windows, Mac and Linux.

Open your browser and go to outlook.live.com — the official Hotmail and Outlook.com sign-in page. You can also type hotmail.com or outlook.com — both redirect to the same login page.
Click the Sign in button in the top right corner of the page.
Enter your Hotmail email address (e.g. yourname@hotmail.com, @live.com or @outlook.com) and click Next.
Enter your Microsoft account password on the next screen and click Sign in.
If you have two-step verification enabled, Microsoft will ask you to verify via app, SMS code or email code. Complete the verification to continue.
Choose whether to Stay signed in — click Yes on personal devices for convenience, or No on shared or public computers.
Your Hotmail inbox will load at outlook.live.com/mail/. All your emails, folders and contacts are exactly where you left them.

✅ Signed in successfully? You now have access to your Hotmail inbox plus all Microsoft services — OneDrive, Microsoft Teams, Skype, Xbox and Office Online — using the same account.

💡 Microsoft Edge tip: If you’re on Windows, Microsoft Edge often keeps you signed in automatically since it uses your Windows Microsoft account. Check the top right corner — you may already be signed in.

Access Hotmail on Android using the Outlook app or the built-in Gmail/Email app.

Method 1 — Microsoft Outlook App (Recommended)

Download Microsoft Outlook from the Google Play Store — it’s free and the official app for Hotmail and Outlook.com.
Open the app and tap Add Account if no account is set up, or tap the menu icon (☰) → tap your profile → Add Account.
Enter your Hotmail email address (@hotmail.com, @live.com or @outlook.com) and tap Continue.
Enter your password and tap Sign In.
Complete any two-step verification prompt. Tap Maybe later if asked to set up additional options for now.
Your Hotmail inbox will load inside the Outlook app. Tap Go to Inbox to start reading emails.

Method 2 — Android Built-in Email / Gmail App

Open the Gmail app on your Android device → tap your profile picture → Add another account.
Select Outlook, Hotmail and Live from the list of account types.
Enter your Hotmail address and tap Next, then enter your password and tap Next.
Complete any verification if prompted. Your Hotmail account will sync and appear as a separate inbox in the Gmail app.

💡 Tip: The official Outlook app gives the best Hotmail experience on Android — it supports Focused Inbox, calendar sync, and real-time push notifications unlike third-party apps.

Access Hotmail on iPhone using the Outlook app or Apple Mail.

Method 1 — Microsoft Outlook App (Recommended)

Download Microsoft Outlook from the App Store — free from Microsoft Corporation.
Open the app and tap Add Account.
Enter your Hotmail email address and tap Add Account.
Enter your password and tap Sign in.
Complete any two-step verification prompt. Your inbox will load automatically.

Method 2 — Apple Mail App

Go to Settings on your iPhone → tap Mail → Accounts → Add Account.
Select Outlook.com from the list of account types.
Enter your Hotmail email address and password. Tap Sign In.
Toggle on Mail (and Contacts, Calendars if you want to sync those) and tap Save.
Open the Mail app — your Hotmail inbox will appear as a separate account.

Method 3 — Safari Browser

Open Safari and go to outlook.live.com.
Tap Sign in, enter your Hotmail address and password, complete verification if required.
To save it as a shortcut: tap the Share button (square with arrow) → Add to Home Screen for easy access.

💡 Tip: The Outlook app syncs calendar and contacts in addition to email. Apple Mail syncs email only unless you also enable Contacts and Calendars during setup.

🔑 Forgot Hotmail Password — How to Reset It

If you’ve forgotten your Hotmail or Outlook password, you can reset it using Microsoft’s account recovery tool. You’ll need access to your recovery phone number, recovery email, or security questions.

Go to account.live.com/password/reset — Microsoft’s official Hotmail password reset page.
Select “I forgot my password” and click Next.
Enter your Hotmail email address and complete the CAPTCHA, then click Next.
Choose your verification method — Microsoft will offer to send a code to your recovery phone number, recovery email address, or use security questions if set up.
Enter the verification code you receive. Codes expire in 30 minutes — use them promptly.
Create a new password — use at least 8 characters with uppercase, lowercase, numbers and a symbol. Confirm it and click Next.
Sign in with your new password at outlook.live.com. Your account is fully recovered.

💡 No recovery options? On the recovery page, select “I don’t have any of these”. Microsoft will walk you through an identity verification process — answer questions about your account (creation date, contacts you email, subjects of old emails) from a device you normally use.

⚠️ Account locked? Microsoft locks accounts after multiple failed sign-in attempts. Wait 30 minutes before trying again, or use the password reset page to verify your identity and unlock immediately.

Reset Hotmail Password →

📱 Hotmail Two-Step Verification — Sign In With 2FA

If you have two-step verification (2SV) enabled on your Microsoft account, you’ll need to complete an additional verification step after entering your password.

📱

SMS Code

Microsoft sends a 6-digit code to your registered phone number by text. Enter it on the verification screen within 30 minutes.

🔔

Authenticator App

Open the Microsoft Authenticator app and either approve the push notification or enter the 6-digit code shown.

📧

Recovery Email Code

Microsoft sends a code to your alternate recovery email address. Check that inbox and enter the code.

🗝️

Recovery Code

Use a single-use recovery code generated when you set up 2SV. Click Other ways to sign in → Use a recovery code.

💡 2FA code not arriving? Wait 2–3 minutes and request a new code. Disable VPN if active — it can interfere with SMS delivery. Click Other ways to sign in on the verification screen to switch to a different verification method.

ℹ️ Microsoft Authenticator app: Download the free Microsoft Authenticator app for the most secure and convenient 2FA method. It supports both push notifications and time-based codes, and works even without an internet connection for code generation.

🔧 Hotmail Login Troubleshooting

Problem	Most Likely Cause	Fix
Wrong password error	Caps Lock on, saved password outdated	Retype manually, reset password if needed
Account blocked	Suspicious activity or too many failed attempts	Wait 30 min or use password reset page
Outlook.com not loading	Browser cache, extensions	Try incognito, clear cache, disable extensions
2FA code not arriving	Network delay, wrong number registered	Wait 3 min, request new code, try another method
Keeps signing out	Cookie settings, security flag	Check cookie settings, enable Stay signed in
Account locked out	Microsoft detected unusual activity	Verify identity via account.live.com/password/reset
Forgot Hotmail address	Multiple Microsoft accounts	Check account.live.com/acsr (account recovery)
Hotmail app not syncing	Outdated app, sync settings off	Update Outlook app, check sync settings
Suspicious activity warning	New device, new location, or VPN	Disable VPN, verify via recovery phone or email
Account says it doesn’t exist	Typing wrong domain (@live vs @hotmail)	Try all variants: @hotmail.com, @live.com, @outlook.com
Error code shown	Temporary Microsoft server issue	Wait 15–30 min and retry; check status.live.com

🌐 Hotmail Login URL — Official Sign-In Links

Hotmail has been rebranded to Outlook.com. All the URLs below lead to the same Microsoft account sign-in page.

💻

Main Login Page

outlook.live.com — official Hotmail and Outlook login

🔀

hotmail.com

hotmail.com — redirects automatically to outlook.live.com

🔀

outlook.com

outlook.com — also redirects to the Outlook sign-in page

🔑

Password Reset

account.live.com/password/reset — reset forgotten password

👤

Account Recovery

account.live.com/acsr — recover locked or inaccessible account

🛡

Security Settings

account.microsoft.com/security — manage 2FA and trusted devices

📋 Hotmail, Outlook & Live — Name History Explained

Confused by Hotmail vs Outlook vs Live? Here is the full history of Microsoft’s email service and what all the different domain names mean today.

Name / Domain	Era	Status in 2026
Hotmail.com	1996 – 2013 (original)	Redirects to Outlook
MSN Hotmail	1997 – 2012 (after Microsoft acquisition)	Redirects to Outlook
Windows Live Hotmail	2007 – 2012	Redirects to Outlook
Live.com	2005 – present	Active — login works
Outlook.com	2013 – present (current brand)	Active — main login URL
@hotmail.com addresses	1996 – present	Active — still fully usable
@live.com addresses	2005 – present	Active — still fully usable
@outlook.com addresses	2013 – present	Active — new default domain
@msn.com addresses	Legacy	Active — still accessible

ℹ️ Key point: Your @hotmail.com address has not been deleted or changed. Microsoft simply renamed the service and updated the website. You still sign in at outlook.live.com using your original @hotmail.com address and password.

📝 Don’t Have a Hotmail Account Yet?

Creating a free Hotmail or Outlook account takes less than 5 minutes. Follow our step-by-step signup guide.

Create Hotmail Account →

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

The official Hotmail login page in 2026 is outlook.live.com. Typing hotmail.com or outlook.com in your browser automatically redirects you to the same sign-in page. Always make sure the address bar shows login.live.com or outlook.live.com when signing in to avoid phishing sites.

Yes, Hotmail is still fully available. Microsoft rebranded Hotmail to Outlook.com in 2013 but did not delete any accounts or email addresses. Your @hotmail.com address, all your emails, contacts and folders are intact. You simply sign in at outlook.live.com instead of the old hotmail.com. Microsoft only deletes accounts that have been completely inactive for 2 or more years.

They are the same service. Hotmail was Microsoft’s original free email service, launched in 1996. Microsoft rebranded it to Outlook.com in 2013. If you have a @hotmail.com address, you are using Outlook.com — the interface, features and sign-in process are identical to someone with an @outlook.com address. The only difference is the email domain in your address.

Several reasons this can happen: (1) Microsoft periodically requires password updates for security — your password may have expired. (2) Someone else may have changed your password if your account was compromised. (3) Caps Lock may be on, or your browser is autofilling the wrong saved password. (4) Your account may have been flagged for suspicious activity. Go to account.live.com/password/reset to reset your password and regain access.

At outlook.live.com, click your profile picture at the top right → click Sign in with a different account → enter the second Hotmail address and password. You can switch between accounts by clicking your profile picture and selecting the account. Alternatively, use different browser profiles or private/incognito windows for each account.

Go to account.live.com/acsr — Microsoft’s Account Recovery form. Fill in as much accurate information as possible: previous passwords, contacts you emailed, subjects of old messages, when you created the account, and your location. Microsoft reviews these submissions manually, which can take 1–3 business days. Use the device and network you normally used with that account to improve your chances.

Yes. Microsoft supports passwordless sign-in for Hotmail and Outlook accounts. You can sign in using the Microsoft Authenticator app, a fingerprint or face ID (Windows Hello), a physical security key, or a one-time SMS/email code. To set up passwordless sign-in, go to account.microsoft.com/security → Advanced security options → Passwordless account.

Go to account.microsoft.com/devices and click Sign out next to each device you want to remove. For Outlook.com specifically, go to Settings (gear icon) → View all Outlook settings → General → Privacy and data → Sign out of all devices. Change your password immediately if you suspect unauthorized access.

Yes — Hotmail and Outlook.com are completely free. Microsoft provides 15 GB of free storage for your Hotmail inbox and 5 GB for OneDrive file storage. A free Microsoft account also includes access to Office Online (Word, Excel, PowerPoint in the browser), Microsoft Teams free tier, and Skype. Microsoft 365 paid plans offer more storage and desktop Office apps, but are not required to use Hotmail.

📚 Related Guides

This is an independent help guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Microsoft Corporation. Hotmail, Outlook and Microsoft are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All steps are based on publicly available information and verified as of May 2026.