Can I use my Hotmail address on the Outlook mobile app?

Yes. Download the Microsoft Outlook app for iOS or Android, tap Add Account, and enter your Hotmail address and password. It works exactly like the desktop version.

Hotmail Login 2026 – Sign In to Your Hotmail Account (Outlook.com)

How to Login to Hotmail

Select your device below. Hotmail sign-in works identically whether your address is @hotmail.com, @outlook.com, or @live.com.

Go to outlook.live.com Open any browser and visit outlook.live.com or simply type hotmail.com — both redirect to the same Microsoft sign-in page.
Enter your Hotmail address Type your full address — e.g. yourname@hotmail.com — and click Next. @hotmail.co.uk, @hotmail.com, and @live.com addresses all work here.
Enter your password Type your Microsoft account password (passwords are case-sensitive) and click Sign in.
Complete 2-Step Verification (if enabled) Microsoft may ask you to approve the login via the Microsoft Authenticator app, enter an SMS code, or click a link sent to your recovery email.
Choose "Stay signed in" (optional) Microsoft asks if you want to stay signed in. Click Yes on personal computers, No on shared or public devices.
Your Hotmail inbox is ready You're now in Outlook.com — the same inbox, just with a modern interface. All your old Hotmail emails are exactly where you left them.

💡 Pro Tip: Bookmark outlook.live.com/mail/ for direct inbox access. Typing "hotmail" in your browser will get you there too — Microsoft keeps the redirect active.

Download the Outlook app Search for Microsoft Outlook on the Google Play Store and install it. It's free and officially supported by Microsoft for all Hotmail accounts.
Open the app and tap "Add Account" Launch Outlook and tap Add Account on the welcome screen. If you already have another account, go to the menu → Settings → Add Account.
Enter your Hotmail address Type your @hotmail.com address and tap Continue.
Enter your password Type your Microsoft account password and tap Sign in.
Approve 2-Step Verification If prompted, approve via the Microsoft Authenticator app notification or enter the code sent by SMS.
Inbox synced Outlook will sync your Hotmail inbox. You can also add your Google Calendar or other accounts from the same app for a unified view.

💡 Pro Tip: You can also add Hotmail via Android's built-in Settings → Accounts → Add Account → Outlook/Hotmail — this syncs email, contacts, and calendar all at once without needing the Outlook app.

Get the Outlook app Download Microsoft Outlook from the App Store. It's free and gives you the best Hotmail experience on iOS.
Tap "Add Account" and enter your address Open Outlook, tap Add Account, type your @hotmail.com address, and tap Add Account again to proceed.
Enter your Microsoft password Type your password on the Microsoft sign-in screen and tap Sign in.
Complete verification Approve the login via Authenticator app, SMS code, or recovery email. Once verified, your inbox will load.
Optional: Add to iPhone's Mail app Go to Settings → Mail → Accounts → Add Account → Outlook.com and sign in with your Hotmail address. This adds Hotmail to Apple's native Mail and Calendar apps.

💡 Pro Tip: The Microsoft Outlook app on iPhone supports Focus Mode filtering, Focused Inbox, and integrated calendar — features not available in Apple Mail. Worth using if you manage a busy inbox.

Common Hotmail Login Problems & Quick Fixes

Most sign-in issues are resolved in under two minutes. Find your problem below.

🔑

Forgot Password

You can't remember your Microsoft account password or it's being rejected.

→ Reset password

📧

Forgot Email Address

You can't remember which @hotmail.com or @outlook.com address you registered with.

→ Find your account

🚫

Account Blocked

Microsoft locked your account after detecting suspicious activity or too many failed login attempts.

→ Unlock account

📱

2FA Code Not Working

The verification code expired, didn't arrive, or your Authenticator app is out of sync.

→ Manage verification

🌐

Page Not Loading

Outlook.com loads slowly, shows a blank page, or keeps redirecting.

→ Browser fixes

⏳

Account Inactive / Expired

Microsoft closes accounts that haven't been accessed for 2 years. You may need to recover via the form below.

→ Microsoft support

🛠️ Browser/App Fix: Clear your browser cache and cookies (Settings → Privacy → Clear browsing data), then try signing in in a private/incognito window. For the Outlook mobile app, force-close it, clear the app cache from device settings, and reopen. If problems persist, try signing in via outlook.live.com in your mobile browser instead.

⚠️ Inactive Account Warning: Microsoft automatically closes Hotmail/Outlook accounts that haven't been signed into for 2 years. If your account was inactive, the email address may be permanently deleted and unrecoverable. Sign in at least once every 12 months to keep it active.

Hotmail Account Recovery – Step by Step

Locked out completely? Follow these steps to get back in. The process depends on what recovery information you previously added.

1

Go to Microsoft's account recovery page

Visit account.live.com/password/reset and enter your @hotmail.com address.
2

Choose a verification method

Microsoft will offer options: a code to your recovery email, a code via SMS, or the Microsoft Authenticator app. Select the one you still have access to.
3

Enter the verification code

Check your recovery email or phone for a one-time code. Enter it within the time limit (usually 10 minutes) to verify your identity.
4

Use the account recovery form if needed

If you've lost access to all your recovery options, visit account.live.com/acsr — Microsoft's manual recovery form. Answer the questions as accurately as possible. Previous passwords, creation date, and contacts help your case.
5

Reset your password

Once verified, create a new strong password. Use at least 12 characters with mixed case, numbers, and symbols.
6

Update your recovery info

After regaining access, go to account.microsoft.com → Security → Update your info and ensure your recovery email and phone are current.

✅ Tip: The manual recovery form works better when you can provide as many accurate details as possible — previous passwords, subjects of old emails, frequent contacts, and the approximate account creation date all improve your chances.

Hotmail Account Security Tips

Your Hotmail/Microsoft account connects to OneDrive, Office apps, Xbox, and more. These steps keep it protected.

🔐

Enable 2-Step Verification

Go to account.microsoft.com → Security → Advanced security options and turn on two-step verification. Use the Microsoft Authenticator app for best protection.

🔒

Use a Strong Password

At least 12 characters mixing uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. Never reuse your Hotmail password on other sites.

📋

Review Recent Activity

Go to account.microsoft.com → Security → Review activity to see recent sign-ins. If anything looks unfamiliar, change your password immediately.

🎣

Watch for Phishing

Microsoft will never email you asking for your password. If you get a suspicious "verify your account" email, go directly to outlook.live.com — never click email links.

📱

Use Microsoft Authenticator

The free Microsoft Authenticator app provides time-based codes and push approvals — much more secure than SMS codes alone.

📧

Keep Recovery Info Updated

Outdated recovery info is the #1 reason people permanently lose Hotmail access. Check and update it yearly at account.microsoft.com/security.

Hotmail IMAP & SMTP Settings

Need to access Hotmail in a third-party email client like Thunderbird, Apple Mail, or a phone's default mail app? Use these settings.

These settings work for all Microsoft email addresses: @hotmail.com, @outlook.com, @live.com, and @msn.com.

Setting	Server	Port	Security
IMAP (Incoming)	`outlook.office365.com`	`993`	SSL/TLS
SMTP (Outgoing)	`smtp.office365.com`	`587`	STARTTLS
POP3 (Alternative)	`outlook.office365.com`	`995`	SSL/TLS

💡 Note: Use your full @hotmail.com address as the username. If sign-in fails in a third-party app, make sure IMAP is enabled in Outlook settings: outlook.live.com → Settings → Mail → Sync email → POP and IMAP.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Hotmail login, account access, and the Outlook rebrand.

What is the Hotmail login page URL?

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The current Hotmail sign-in page is outlook.live.com. Typing hotmail.com in your browser redirects there automatically. Your @hotmail.com address works on the sign-in form exactly as before.

Is Hotmail the same as Outlook?

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Yes. Microsoft rebranded Hotmail as Outlook.com in 2013. All @hotmail.com, @hotmail.co.uk, and @live.com addresses still work. The email service, storage, and features are now managed under the Outlook.com platform — nothing was deleted or lost during the transition.

Why can't I log into my Hotmail account?

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The most common reasons are an incorrect password, account blocked due to suspicious activity, lost 2FA access, or the account being closed due to 2 years of inactivity. Start troubleshooting at account.live.com/password/reset.

How do I recover my Hotmail account?

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Visit account.live.com/password/reset for a standard password reset. If you've lost access to all verification methods, use the manual recovery form at account.live.com/acsr and provide as much account history as possible.

Is Hotmail still active in 2026?

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Yes. @hotmail.com addresses remain fully active and receive email normally. Microsoft has no plans to retire them. The only risk to your account is 2+ years of inactivity, which can trigger automatic closure.

Can I use my Hotmail address on iPhone and Android?

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Yes. Download the Microsoft Outlook app (iOS or Android) and sign in with your @hotmail.com address. On iPhone, you can also add Hotmail to Apple's built-in Mail app via Settings → Mail → Accounts → Add Account → Outlook.com.

Hotmail Login – Sign In to Your Hotmail Account