Find the right route to your Hotmail inbox
- Ready to sign in? Open Outlook.com and use your existing Hotmail address.
- Forgot your password? Use Microsoft’s password reset process.
- Account not found or sign-in blocked? Start with Microsoft’s Sign-in Helper.
- Cannot receive a security code? Check the verification and recovery options.
- Need a new address? See our Hotmail / Outlook signup guide.
Is Hotmail now Outlook.com?
Yes. Microsoft provides Hotmail email through Outlook.com. You can use an existing @hotmail.com address to sign in; you do not need to create an Outlook.com address simply because the website uses the Outlook name.
If your account uses a password, your Hotmail password is your Microsoft account password. If you are trying to open a company or school mailbox, use the sign-in service your organization provides instead.
Looking for a different inbox? For a Google mailbox, use our Gmail login guide. A Gmail account and a Hotmail account are separate mailboxes.
How to sign in to Hotmail on a computer
- Open Outlook.com in your browser and select Sign in.
- Enter your full Hotmail email address, including its domain, then continue.
- Enter your Microsoft account password, or follow another sign-in method offered for your account.
- Complete any identity check Microsoft requests.
- Open your inbox. If the wrong account appears, sign out and choose the account you want.
On a shared device: use a private browsing window and explicitly sign out when finished. Microsoft can keep you signed in automatically; closing a normal browser tab is not the same as signing out.
Open Hotmail on Android, iPhone or iPad
In your mobile browser
Visit Outlook.com and sign in with your Hotmail address. This gives you a browser route without configuring an email app.
In the Microsoft Outlook app
- Open the official Outlook app on your phone.
- Choose Add Account or Add Email Account. If you already use Outlook, find the account option in its settings or account menu.
- Enter your full Hotmail address.
- Complete Microsoft's authentication prompts and any requested verification.
Button names can differ between Android and iOS. If you can sign in through the browser but the app fails, consult Microsoft's Android setup guide or iPhone and iPad setup guide.
Passwordless Hotmail login and passkeys
Not every Microsoft account uses a password at sign-in. If you have configured a supported alternative, the screen may offer a passkey, Microsoft Authenticator or another verification method instead.
Follow the option presented for your account. A passkey may ask you to unlock your device with its PIN, fingerprint or face recognition. Approve an Authenticator request only when you initiated the sign-in yourself.
If the suggested method is unavailable, look for Sign-in options or another method. Only methods available for your account can be used; installing an authenticator app after losing access does not automatically reconnect it to your account.
Create passkeys only on devices you control. Do not save a password or set up a passkey for your account on a shared or public computer.
Switch accounts without losing track of your mailbox
Check the full address in Outlook’s account menu before reading or sending messages. If the wrong account opens, use the account-switching option if available, or sign out and sign in with the correct address.
In the Outlook mobile app, use the account menu to select the mailbox you want. An All accounts view may display messages from several accounts, so check the sender address when composing a message.
Adding multiple mailboxes to an app does not merge the underlying accounts. A Microsoft account alias is different: it can be another address for the same account. Do not remove an alias as a login troubleshooting step; follow Microsoft’s alias guidance first.
Can't log in to Hotmail? Match the problem
| What you see | What to try |
|---|---|
| Incorrect password | Check the account address and whether your password manager filled an old password. Use Microsoft's password reset process if you cannot remember the current one. |
| Account not found | Check spelling and the full domain, including any country-specific ending in your original address. Use Microsoft's Sign-in Helper for account identification. |
| The wrong inbox opens | Sign out of the selected account, then sign in with the Hotmail address you intended to use. |
| Security code or approval unavailable | Choose another verification method if Microsoft offers one. See the recovery limitations below. |
| Account locked or sign-in blocked | Follow the on-screen instructions and use Microsoft's Sign-in Helper. The next step depends on the specific message. |
| You can sign in on the web, but not in an app | Check that the app is updated and follow Microsoft's setup instructions for that app. Successful web access helps distinguish an app setup issue from an account access issue. |
| Page keeps looping or stays blank | Update the browser and check extensions that block Microsoft sign-in. Before clearing site data, remember that it can remove working sessions. If account recovery is needed, preserve access on any device still signed in. |
| Security information change pending | Read the account notice and the security-info section below. This is a specific account restriction, not a browser error. |
Open Microsoft's account Sign-in Helper for guidance tailored to your account and error.
Reset a forgotten Hotmail password
On Microsoft's sign-in screen, choose Forgot password?, or follow the official password reset instructions.
- Identify the Microsoft account you need to recover.
- Choose an available method to verify your identity.
- Complete the verification and create a new password when Microsoft allows you to proceed.
If none of the listed security options are accessible, use the Sign-in Helper. Do not send passwords or codes to an unofficial account recovery service.
Missing security codes and account recovery
If a code or approval does not arrive
Check which masked email address or verification method Microsoft is using. For an email code, check the junk folder as well as the inbox. For an Authenticator prompt, check your device’s connection and open the app. Use another offered method if the first one is unavailable.
Avoid repeatedly requesting codes. Follow any waiting message Microsoft displays and use the newest code you requested. Available verification methods depend on your account; a text-message option is not guaranteed.
When to use the recovery form
Start with Microsoft’s Sign-in Helper. If directed to the account recovery form, use a familiar device and location, provide a working contact email, and prepare accurate details such as past passwords, email contacts and message subject lines.
Two-step verification limits
The recovery form cannot bypass two-step verification. If it is enabled and no alternate verification method is accessible, Microsoft says its support agents cannot override the checks or change account details to restore access.
Follow Microsoft’s response and on-screen instructions. Submitting a recovery form does not guarantee that ownership can be verified.
What a pending security information change means
If all your old security information was removed and replaced, Microsoft can apply a 30-day restricted period. This is separate from an ordinary password reset and does not mean every sign-in problem requires a 30-day wait.
Read the notice for your account. Access during this period depends on your security setup; accounts with two-step verification face additional restrictions. Microsoft says it cannot shorten the waiting period, although you may be able to cancel your own change request by proving access to the previous security information.
If you did not request the change, follow the reporting instructions on Microsoft’s security page. See Microsoft’s pending security-info guidance.
Can you still access an old Hotmail account?
An existing Hotmail address can still sign in through Outlook.com if the account remains available. You do not need to change its domain just to use the current interface.
If Microsoft cannot find it, check the complete address, including any country-specific domain. Use the Sign-in Helper to investigate the account’s status. An account that was closed or deleted may not be recoverable; creating a new account will not bring back its messages.
A company or school mailbox uses the sign-in service your organization provides. Contact its administrator for managed-account access rather than using a personal Microsoft account recovery form.
Sign out of Hotmail on a shared computer
Select your profile picture or initials in Outlook.com and choose Sign out. Close the browser windows you used when you finish.
Microsoft recommends private browsing when using a public computer. Avoid saving your password or choosing to stay signed in. Private browsing does not protect you from malicious software on an untrusted device.
For the current account-menu instructions, see Microsoft's sign-out guide.
Need to end access on a device you no longer have? Open Microsoft account security settings and review the available sign-out and security options. Follow Microsoft’s instructions for the affected device or session.
Protect your account from login scams
Start at Microsoft
Open Outlook.com yourself. Personal Microsoft sign-in commonly uses login.live.com; check the actual address before entering credentials. A logo or padlock alone does not prove a page is genuine.
Keep verification codes private
Do not send codes, recovery information or Authenticator approvals to someone offering to unlock your mailbox. Complete verification only in the Microsoft flow you started.
Review security information
Keep your recovery methods current and review unexpected sign-in activity. Avoid removing all security methods at once.
Use official support routes
Use the Sign-in Helper or Microsoft Support. Someone promising guaranteed access for a fee cannot legitimately bypass Microsoft’s ownership checks.
After regaining access, visit Microsoft account security to review sign-in methods and account activity.
Hotmail login questions
What is the official Hotmail login website?
Start at Outlook.com and select Sign in. Microsoft opens the mailbox associated with your account after you complete authentication.
Can I still use my old Hotmail address?
Yes, if the account is still available. Sign in with the existing address. An account that has been deleted may not be recoverable, and a new account will not restore its messages.
Do I need a separate Outlook password?
No. Hotmail uses your Microsoft account credentials. The Outlook name does not create a separate password for your existing Hotmail mailbox.
Can I log in to Hotmail without a password?
If your Microsoft account has a supported passwordless method available, follow that option at sign-in. This could include a passkey or Microsoft Authenticator. It still requires proof that you can access the configured method.
What if I no longer have my old phone?
Use another verification method offered for your account or start Microsoft’s Sign-in Helper. The account recovery form cannot bypass two-step verification when all alternate verification methods are unavailable.
Why does Outlook open a different account?
Your browser or app may already be signed in to another account. Check the profile menu, switch accounts if available, or sign out and sign back in with the correct Hotmail address.
Can I use Hotmail on my phone without an app?
Yes. Open Outlook.com in your phone’s browser and complete Microsoft’s sign-in prompts. The Outlook mobile app is another option.
Is every recovery request subject to a 30-day wait?
No. A 30-day restriction can apply when all security information is replaced. It is not a universal waiting period for every password reset or recovery request.
Does this guide provide Hotmail customer support?
No. This is an independent informational guide linking to Microsoft. It cannot access messages, reset passwords or remove account restrictions.
Official sources and related guides
Guide updated . Screens and verification options can vary by account and device.
- Microsoft: How to sign in to Hotmail
- Microsoft: Outlook.com sign-in help
- Microsoft: Account Sign-in Helper
- Microsoft: Reset a forgotten password
- Microsoft: Account recovery form guidance
- Related: Gmail login and account access
- Related: Create a Gmail account
- Microsoft: Verification code troubleshooting
- Microsoft: Pending security information changes
- Microsoft: Create and save a passkey
- Related: Hotmail / Outlook signup