Complete step-by-step Hotmail and Outlook.com signup guide for desktop, Android and iPhone — with username tips, password checker and full account setup.
3Platforms
FreeNo Cost Ever
5 minTo Sign Up
✍️ theuiaa.org Editorial Team📅 Updated 30 May 2026⏱ 4 min read📧 Hotmail Signup Guide
Hotmail is now called Outlook.com — Microsoft rebranded it in 2013 — but creating a new account works exactly the same way. When you sign up today, you can choose an @outlook.com, @hotmail.com or @live.com address. Your new account gives you access to Outlook email, OneDrive, Microsoft Teams, Office Online and more — all for free.
This guide covers how to create a free Hotmail or Outlook account on desktop, Android and iPhone — with username tips, a live password strength checker, and everything you need to set up your account properly.
ℹ️ Hotmail vs Outlook.com: They are the same service. When you create a new account today at outlook.live.com, Microsoft offers @outlook.com as the default domain — but you can still choose @hotmail.com during signup by selecting it from the domain dropdown.
Works on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari and all major browsers on Windows, Mac and Linux.
Go to signup.live.com in your browser — this is Microsoft’s official Hotmail and Outlook account creation page.
Click Get a new email address if shown, or the page will directly show the username field. Enter your desired username (the part before the @).
Choose your email domain from the dropdown next to the username field — select @outlook.com (default) or @hotmail.com. Click Next.
Create a strong password — at least 8 characters with uppercase, lowercase, numbers and a symbol. Confirm the password and click Next.
Enter your first name and last name — this is your display name shown to people you email. Click Next.
Enter your country/region and date of birth. Click Next.
Complete the CAPTCHA puzzle to prove you’re a real person. Click Next.
Microsoft may ask you to verify via a phone number — enter your number and the SMS code if prompted (optional for some accounts).
Your Hotmail account is created. You’ll be signed in automatically and taken to your new inbox at outlook.live.com/mail/.
✅ Account created! Your new email address is yourusername@hotmail.com or @outlook.com. Use it to sign in to all Microsoft services immediately.
💡 Can’t find the @hotmail.com option? After entering your username, look for a dropdown arrow next to the domain. Click it to switch from @outlook.com to @hotmail.com or @live.com. If no dropdown appears, Microsoft may default to @outlook.com only in your region.
Create a Hotmail account on Android through the Outlook app or your phone settings.
Method 1 — Microsoft Outlook App (Recommended)
Download Microsoft Outlook from the Google Play Store — free, by Microsoft Corporation.
Open the app and tap Add Account. On the sign-in screen, tap Create one! below the email field.
Enter your desired username and select @hotmail.com or @outlook.com from the dropdown. Tap Next.
Create a strong password and tap Next.
Enter your first name, last name, country and date of birth. Tap Next after each screen.
Complete the puzzle CAPTCHA — tap Next.
If prompted, verify via phone number — enter the SMS code. Your account is created and your inbox opens automatically.
Method 2 — Android Phone Settings
Go to Settings → Accounts → Add Account → select Outlook.com / Hotmail.
On the Microsoft sign-in page, tap Create one! to begin the signup process.
Follow the same steps as Method 1 from step 3 onwards.
Once created, toggle on Email, Contacts and Calendar sync as desired. Tap Done.
💡 Tip: Creating through Settings automatically syncs contacts and calendar to your Android device, not just email.
Create a Hotmail account on iPhone via the Outlook app or Safari.
Method 1 — Microsoft Outlook App (Recommended)
Download Microsoft Outlook from the App Store — free from Microsoft Corporation.
Open the app and tap Add Account. Tap Create one! on the sign-in screen.
Enter your desired username and choose @hotmail.com or @outlook.com from the dropdown. Tap Next.
Create a strong password and tap Next.
Enter your first name, last name, country and date of birth. Tap Next.
Complete the CAPTCHA and any phone verification. Your account is created and inbox opens.
Follow the same steps as the Desktop guide above — the mobile browser signup process is identical.
Add Hotmail to Apple Mail
After creating your account, go to Settings → Mail → Accounts → Add Account → Outlook.com.
Sign in with your new Hotmail address and password. Enable Mail and tap Save.
Your Hotmail inbox will now appear in Apple Mail.
📧 Which Email Domain Should You Choose?
When creating a new Hotmail account, Microsoft lets you choose from three email domains. Here’s what each one means and which to pick.
📬 Available Hotmail / Outlook Domains
Recommended
@outlook.com
Microsoft’s current default. Modern, professional, widely recognised. Best for new accounts.
Classic
@hotmail.com
The original Hotmail domain. Still available, still works perfectly. Choose this if you prefer the Hotmail brand.
Legacy
@live.com
Microsoft’s older Windows Live brand domain. Available in some regions. Less commonly used today.
ℹ️ Does it matter which domain you choose? No — all three are the same service, same features, same storage. The only difference is the text after the @ in your email address. All sign in at the same page: outlook.live.com.
👤 Username Tips — How to Choose a Good Hotmail Address
Your Hotmail username is permanent — it cannot be changed after account creation. Choose it carefully using these tips.
✅
Use your real name
firstname.lastname@outlook.com is professional, easy to remember and trusted by recipients.
🔢
Add numbers if needed
If your name is taken, add a meaningful number: john.smith1985 or jsmith42. Avoid random strings.
📏
Keep it short
Shorter addresses are easier to type and share. Aim for under 25 characters total including domain.
🚫
Avoid these
Don’t use offensive words, competitor brand names, or anything you might regret professionally.
🔍 Hotmail Username Format Checker
Check if your username follows Microsoft’s rules before signing up. Availability is checked on Microsoft’s signup page.
ℹ️ Microsoft username rules: 1–64 characters · Letters (a-z), numbers (0-9), dots (.), hyphens (-) and underscores (_) allowed · Cannot start or end with a dot, hyphen or underscore · No consecutive special characters · Case-insensitive
🔑 Password Guide — Create a Strong Hotmail Password
Your Hotmail password protects your email, OneDrive files, and all Microsoft services. Use the checker below to test strength before signing up.
🔐 Password Strength Checker
Enter a password to check strength
At least 8 characters
Uppercase letter (A-Z)
Lowercase letter (a-z)
Number (0-9)
Symbol (!@#$%)
12+ characters (recommended)
💡 Password tips: Never use the same password on multiple sites. Use a password manager like Bitwarden (free) to generate and store a unique password for your Hotmail account.
⚠️ Avoid these passwords: Your name, birthday, “hotmail”, “outlook”, “microsoft”, “password123”, keyboard patterns like qwerty or 12345678, or any password you already use elsewhere.
📋 Hotmail Signup Requirements
Requirement
Details
Required?
Age
Minimum 13 years old (varies by country — some require 16+)
Yes — you can still create a @hotmail.com email address in 2026. During signup at signup.live.com, click the dropdown next to the username field and select @hotmail.com instead of the default @outlook.com. If the dropdown is not visible, try accessing the signup page from a different browser or device. Microsoft still supports new @hotmail.com registrations in most regions.
Yes — Hotmail (Outlook.com) is completely free with no hidden charges. You get a free email account, 15 GB of email storage, 5 GB of OneDrive storage, and access to Office Online (Word, Excel, PowerPoint in the browser) at no cost. Microsoft 365 Personal and Family are optional paid plans that add more storage and desktop Office apps, but are not required to use Hotmail.
No — your Hotmail email address (username + domain) is permanent and cannot be changed once created. You can change your display name (the name recipients see) at any time in Outlook Settings → View all Outlook settings → General → Your profile → Edit name. But the actual email address itself is fixed. If you want a different address, you would need to create a new Microsoft account, though you can add an alias address at account.microsoft.com.
Microsoft allows you to create multiple Hotmail and Outlook accounts. There is no official stated limit, but Microsoft may require phone verification for each new account and may flag excessive account creation. You can be signed in to multiple Microsoft accounts simultaneously — in Outlook.com, click your profile picture to switch accounts. You can also add multiple accounts to the Outlook mobile app.
The minimum age to create a standard Hotmail account is 13 years old in most countries. In some countries the minimum is higher — for example 16 in certain EU member states under GDPR regulations. For children under 13, parents can set up a supervised account using Microsoft Family Safety — this gives parental controls and activity monitoring.
A phone number is technically optional but Microsoft often requires it during signup for new accounts to prevent spam. If you prefer not to add a phone number, try creating the account through a desktop browser — the phone verification step can sometimes be skipped on desktop. Adding a recovery phone number is strongly recommended even if optional, as it is the fastest way to recover your account if you ever get locked out.
There is no functional difference — all three are Microsoft email addresses that use the same Outlook.com platform, the same features and the same sign-in page. The only difference is the domain name in your email address. @outlook.com is Microsoft’s current default and most widely recognised. @hotmail.com is the original classic domain. @live.com is from Microsoft’s older Windows Live era. Choose whichever appeals to you — the service is identical.
After creating your account, these setup steps are recommended: (1) Add a profile photo — click your initials at the top right → My profile → Change photo. (2) Set up two-step verification at account.microsoft.com/security for better security. (3) Add a recovery phone and email at the same security page. (4) Set up your email signature — Outlook Settings (gear icon) → View all settings → Compose and reply → Email signature. (5) Explore Focused Inbox to keep important emails separated from newsletters and promotions.
This is an independent help guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Microsoft Corporation. Hotmail, Outlook, OneDrive and Microsoft are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All steps are based on publicly available information and verified as of May 2026.
📧 Hotmail Help · Updated 2026
How to Create a Free Hotmail Account
Complete step-by-step Hotmail and Outlook.com signup guide for desktop, Android and iPhone — with username tips, password checker and full account setup.
3Platforms
FreeNo Cost Ever
5 minTo Sign Up
✍️ theuiaa.org Editorial Team📅 Updated 30 May 2026⏱ 4 min read📧 Hotmail Signup Guide
Hotmail is now called Outlook.com — Microsoft rebranded it in 2013 — but creating a new account works exactly the same way. When you sign up today, you can choose an @outlook.com, @hotmail.com or @live.com address. Your new account gives you access to Outlook email, OneDrive, Microsoft Teams, Office Online and more — all for free.
This guide covers how to create a free Hotmail or Outlook account on desktop, Android and iPhone — with username tips, a live password strength checker, and everything you need to set up your account properly.
ℹ️ Hotmail vs Outlook.com: They are the same service. When you create a new account today at outlook.live.com, Microsoft offers @outlook.com as the default domain — but you can still choose @hotmail.com during signup by selecting it from the domain dropdown.
Works on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari and all major browsers on Windows, Mac and Linux.
Go to signup.live.com in your browser — this is Microsoft’s official Hotmail and Outlook account creation page.
Click Get a new email address if shown, or the page will directly show the username field. Enter your desired username (the part before the @).
Choose your email domain from the dropdown next to the username field — select @outlook.com (default) or @hotmail.com. Click Next.
Create a strong password — at least 8 characters with uppercase, lowercase, numbers and a symbol. Confirm the password and click Next.
Enter your first name and last name — this is your display name shown to people you email. Click Next.
Enter your country/region and date of birth. Click Next.
Complete the CAPTCHA puzzle to prove you’re a real person. Click Next.
Microsoft may ask you to verify via a phone number — enter your number and the SMS code if prompted (optional for some accounts).
Your Hotmail account is created. You’ll be signed in automatically and taken to your new inbox at outlook.live.com/mail/.
✅ Account created! Your new email address is yourusername@hotmail.com or @outlook.com. Use it to sign in to all Microsoft services immediately.
💡 Can’t find the @hotmail.com option? After entering your username, look for a dropdown arrow next to the domain. Click it to switch from @outlook.com to @hotmail.com or @live.com. If no dropdown appears, Microsoft may default to @outlook.com only in your region.
Create a Hotmail account on Android through the Outlook app or your phone settings.
Method 1 — Microsoft Outlook App (Recommended)
Download Microsoft Outlook from the Google Play Store — free, by Microsoft Corporation.
Open the app and tap Add Account. On the sign-in screen, tap Create one! below the email field.
Enter your desired username and select @hotmail.com or @outlook.com from the dropdown. Tap Next.
Create a strong password and tap Next.
Enter your first name, last name, country and date of birth. Tap Next after each screen.
Complete the puzzle CAPTCHA — tap Next.
If prompted, verify via phone number — enter the SMS code. Your account is created and your inbox opens automatically.
Method 2 — Android Phone Settings
Go to Settings → Accounts → Add Account → select Outlook.com / Hotmail.
On the Microsoft sign-in page, tap Create one! to begin the signup process.
Follow the same steps as Method 1 from step 3 onwards.
Once created, toggle on Email, Contacts and Calendar sync as desired. Tap Done.
💡 Tip: Creating through Settings automatically syncs contacts and calendar to your Android device, not just email.
Create a Hotmail account on iPhone via the Outlook app or Safari.
Method 1 — Microsoft Outlook App (Recommended)
Download Microsoft Outlook from the App Store — free from Microsoft Corporation.
Open the app and tap Add Account. Tap Create one! on the sign-in screen.
Enter your desired username and choose @hotmail.com or @outlook.com from the dropdown. Tap Next.
Create a strong password and tap Next.
Enter your first name, last name, country and date of birth. Tap Next.
Complete the CAPTCHA and any phone verification. Your account is created and inbox opens.
Follow the same steps as the Desktop guide above — the mobile browser signup process is identical.
Add Hotmail to Apple Mail
After creating your account, go to Settings → Mail → Accounts → Add Account → Outlook.com.
Sign in with your new Hotmail address and password. Enable Mail and tap Save.
Your Hotmail inbox will now appear in Apple Mail.
📧 Which Email Domain Should You Choose?
When creating a new Hotmail account, Microsoft lets you choose from three email domains. Here’s what each one means and which to pick.
📬 Available Hotmail / Outlook Domains
Recommended
@outlook.com
Microsoft’s current default. Modern, professional, widely recognised. Best for new accounts.
Classic
@hotmail.com
The original Hotmail domain. Still available, still works perfectly. Choose this if you prefer the Hotmail brand.
Legacy
@live.com
Microsoft’s older Windows Live brand domain. Available in some regions. Less commonly used today.
ℹ️ Does it matter which domain you choose? No — all three are the same service, same features, same storage. The only difference is the text after the @ in your email address. All sign in at the same page: outlook.live.com.
👤 Username Tips — How to Choose a Good Hotmail Address
Your Hotmail username is permanent — it cannot be changed after account creation. Choose it carefully using these tips.
✅
Use your real name
firstname.lastname@outlook.com is professional, easy to remember and trusted by recipients.
🔢
Add numbers if needed
If your name is taken, add a meaningful number: john.smith1985 or jsmith42. Avoid random strings.
📏
Keep it short
Shorter addresses are easier to type and share. Aim for under 25 characters total including domain.
🚫
Avoid these
Don’t use offensive words, competitor brand names, or anything you might regret professionally.
🔍 Hotmail Username Format Checker
Check if your username follows Microsoft’s rules before signing up. Availability is checked on Microsoft’s signup page.
ℹ️ Microsoft username rules: 1–64 characters · Letters (a-z), numbers (0-9), dots (.), hyphens (-) and underscores (_) allowed · Cannot start or end with a dot, hyphen or underscore · No consecutive special characters · Case-insensitive
🔑 Password Guide — Create a Strong Hotmail Password
Your Hotmail password protects your email, OneDrive files, and all Microsoft services. Use the checker below to test strength before signing up.
🔐 Password Strength Checker
Enter a password to check strength
At least 8 characters
Uppercase letter (A-Z)
Lowercase letter (a-z)
Number (0-9)
Symbol (!@#$%)
12+ characters (recommended)
💡 Password tips: Never use the same password on multiple sites. Use a password manager like Bitwarden (free) to generate and store a unique password for your Hotmail account.
⚠️ Avoid these passwords: Your name, birthday, “hotmail”, “outlook”, “microsoft”, “password123”, keyboard patterns like qwerty or 12345678, or any password you already use elsewhere.
📋 Hotmail Signup Requirements
Requirement
Details
Required?
Age
Minimum 13 years old (varies by country — some require 16+)
Yes — you can still create a @hotmail.com email address in 2026. During signup at signup.live.com, click the dropdown next to the username field and select @hotmail.com instead of the default @outlook.com. If the dropdown is not visible, try accessing the signup page from a different browser or device. Microsoft still supports new @hotmail.com registrations in most regions.
Yes — Hotmail (Outlook.com) is completely free with no hidden charges. You get a free email account, 15 GB of email storage, 5 GB of OneDrive storage, and access to Office Online (Word, Excel, PowerPoint in the browser) at no cost. Microsoft 365 Personal and Family are optional paid plans that add more storage and desktop Office apps, but are not required to use Hotmail.
No — your Hotmail email address (username + domain) is permanent and cannot be changed once created. You can change your display name (the name recipients see) at any time in Outlook Settings → View all Outlook settings → General → Your profile → Edit name. But the actual email address itself is fixed. If you want a different address, you would need to create a new Microsoft account, though you can add an alias address at account.microsoft.com.
Microsoft allows you to create multiple Hotmail and Outlook accounts. There is no official stated limit, but Microsoft may require phone verification for each new account and may flag excessive account creation. You can be signed in to multiple Microsoft accounts simultaneously — in Outlook.com, click your profile picture to switch accounts. You can also add multiple accounts to the Outlook mobile app.
The minimum age to create a standard Hotmail account is 13 years old in most countries. In some countries the minimum is higher — for example 16 in certain EU member states under GDPR regulations. For children under 13, parents can set up a supervised account using Microsoft Family Safety — this gives parental controls and activity monitoring.
A phone number is technically optional but Microsoft often requires it during signup for new accounts to prevent spam. If you prefer not to add a phone number, try creating the account through a desktop browser — the phone verification step can sometimes be skipped on desktop. Adding a recovery phone number is strongly recommended even if optional, as it is the fastest way to recover your account if you ever get locked out.
There is no functional difference — all three are Microsoft email addresses that use the same Outlook.com platform, the same features and the same sign-in page. The only difference is the domain name in your email address. @outlook.com is Microsoft’s current default and most widely recognised. @hotmail.com is the original classic domain. @live.com is from Microsoft’s older Windows Live era. Choose whichever appeals to you — the service is identical.
After creating your account, these setup steps are recommended: (1) Add a profile photo — click your initials at the top right → My profile → Change photo. (2) Set up two-step verification at account.microsoft.com/security for better security. (3) Add a recovery phone and email at the same security page. (4) Set up your email signature — Outlook Settings (gear icon) → View all settings → Compose and reply → Email signature. (5) Explore Focused Inbox to keep important emails separated from newsletters and promotions.
This is an independent help guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Microsoft Corporation. Hotmail, Outlook, OneDrive and Microsoft are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All steps are based on publicly available information and verified as of May 2026.
Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
