Hotmail Login: How to Sign In to Your Hotmail or Outlook Account

Signing in to Hotmail takes only a few seconds once you know the correct steps. This guide walks you through the Hotmail login process on a computer, Android phone and iPhone, explains how to recover a forgotten password, and shows you how to fix the most common sign-in problems and keep your account secure.

Hotmail is one of the oldest and most widely used email services in the world. Microsoft launched it in 1996, acquired it in 1997, and rebranded it to Outlook.com in 2013. Even today, every @hotmail.com address still works — you simply sign in through the modern Outlook platform with the same email and password you have always used.

How to Log In to Hotmail on a Computer

The web version of Hotmail uses the Outlook platform. Follow these steps:

1. Open your browser and go to outlook.live.com (or mail.live.com).
2. Enter your email address — Type your full Hotmail email (@hotmail.com or @outlook.com) and click Next.
3. Type your password and click Next.
4. Complete verification if two-step verification is enabled — approve the prompt on your phone or enter the code sent to your phone or email.
5. Your inbox opens and you are signed in.

How to Log In to Hotmail on Mobile

On Android

The Outlook app is the best way to access Hotmail on Android:

• Open the Outlook app and tap Add Account or your profile picture.
• Choose Email account and select Outlook.com.
• Enter your Hotmail email address and password.
• Complete any verification step if two-step verification is enabled.
• Your inbox syncs automatically with push notifications enabled.

On iPhone

• Download the Outlook app from the App Store if you don't have it.
• Open the app and tap Add Account.
• Select Outlook.com and enter your Hotmail email and password.
• Approve any verification prompt if two-step verification is on.
• Allow notifications and your inbox loads automatically.

Understanding Hotmail and Outlook.com

Hotmail and Outlook.com are the same service. Here is what you need to know:

• Hotmail rebranded to Outlook in 2013 — Microsoft changed the name and platform, but all @hotmail.com addresses continued to work.
• @hotmail.com still active — Your old Hotmail email address works perfectly. You sign in at outlook.live.com with the same credentials.
• @outlook.com is the modern domain — New accounts use @outlook.com, but both domains use identical features and the same inbox platform.
• Single unified account — Whether your email ends in @hotmail.com or @outlook.com, your settings, contacts and storage are unified under one Microsoft account.

How to Recover a Forgotten Hotmail Password

If you can't remember your password, you can reset it in a few minutes:

1. Click "Forgot my password?" on the Hotmail sign-in screen.
2. Choose a verification method — Microsoft can send a security code to your recovery phone or alternate email.
3. Enter the security code you receive to confirm your identity.
4. Create a new password that you haven't used before and confirm it.
5. Sign in with your new password.

If you cannot access any recovery method, visit account.live.com/acsr and complete the account recovery form with as much detail as possible to prove ownership.

Hotmail Login Problems and How to Fix Them

If you can't sign in, one of these common issues is usually the cause:

• "Wrong password" error: Check that Caps Lock is off, remove any extra spaces, and retype the password manually instead of using a saved one.
• Account locked or unusual activity: Microsoft temporarily locks accounts after suspicious sign-in attempts from unfamiliar locations. Verify your identity using your recovery email or phone number.
• Two-step verification not working: Make sure your phone or email is current in your account settings. Request a new code if the first one expires.
• Page won't load: Check your internet connection, then clear your browser cache and cookies before trying again.
• Browser compatibility issues: Hotmail works best on Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari. Disable browser extensions if you continue to have issues.
• "That Microsoft account doesn't exist": Double-check the spelling of your address, and try @outlook.com if you are unsure which domain your account uses.

Quick troubleshooting reference

Problem	Most likely fix
Password rejected	Turn off Caps Lock, retype manually, or reset password
No verification code	Request a new code; check signal and spam folder
Account locked	Verify identity via recovery phone or email
Page won't load	Clear cache, check connection, try another browser
Account "doesn't exist"	Check spelling; try the @outlook.com variant

Hotmail Login Security Tips

• Turn on two-step verification — This prevents unauthorized access even if someone steals your password. Enable it in your account settings.
• Always check the address bar — The URL should be outlook.live.com and start with https:// before you enter your password.
• Use a strong, unique password — Create one with 12+ characters mixing uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols.
• Review recent account activity — Check the Security section of your Microsoft account to confirm no unauthorized access has occurred.
• Sign out on shared devices — Click your profile picture and select Sign out when finished on public computers.
• Use the Microsoft Authenticator app — It allows passwordless and two-step sign-in that is more secure than SMS codes.

Accessing Hotmail Through Other Email Apps

You can use Hotmail with email applications beyond the Outlook app:

• Gmail app — Add your Hotmail account using app-specific passwords for security (generated in your Microsoft account settings).
• Third-party email clients — Desktop clients like Thunderbird and Apple Mail support Hotmail using IMAP authentication.
• Generate app-specific passwords — For apps that don't support two-step verification directly, create a unique app password in your Microsoft account security settings instead of using your main password.

Frequently Asked Questions