Hotmail - Hotmail Login - Hotmail Sign in

How To Login In To Hotmail

I still remember the excitement of signing up for my very first email account back in the late 90s. It was with Hotmail, and being able to send instant messages from my computer felt really cool and futuristic at the time! Those were the early days of the internet and email for the masses.

Hotmail, launched in 1995 by Sabeer Bhatia and Jack Smith, gave the idea of free, web-based email services accessible to everyone. It caught on like wildfire and got a huge global user base. By 1997, Microsoft recognized Hotmail's massive potential and scooped up the company, renaming it MSN Hotmail.

For over 15 years after that, Hotmail was simply THE email service that households everywhere used and recognized. Even though the service rebranded to Outlook.com in 2013, a tremendously loyal base of longtime hotmail.com users has stuck around to this day.

While many new email players have certainly made waves, Hotmail's straightforward approach and tight integration with other Microsoft products has allowed it to remain relevant and popular, especially for those of us who got started with email in the 90s and early 2000s. Whether you're a newly-converted Hotmail user or an OG like myself, the login process remains blissfully simple.

Step-by-Step: How to Log into Your Hotmail Account

Hotmail login or Hotmail signup at www.hotmail.com is pretty straightforward, whether you're on a computer, phone, or tablet. Let's go through the steps for each device.

Logging into Hotmail from a Computer:

Open up your web browser (like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge) and go to www.outlook.com or www.hotmail.com
You'll see a button or link to click to sign in. Click that.
On the sign-in page, type in your full Hotmail email address (for example, myname@hotmail.com)
Next, enter your password for that account in the password field.
Click the "Sign In" button.

Logging into Hotmail from an Android Phone/Tablet:

Hotmail offers its mobile application for android phones and tablets for easier Hotmail sign in. With few just few swipes and clicks, you can easily handle all your emails.

Open the Google Play Store app and search for "Microsoft Outlook"
Download and install that app
Open the Outlook app and tap the "Get Started" button
Select "Add Email Account" and choose Outlook.com
Enter your full @hotmail.com email address and password
Tap "Sign In"

Logging into Hotmail from an iPhone/iPad:

Similarly, you can access your emails on your iPhone and iPad through the following steps:

Open the App Store and download "Microsoft Outlook"
Open the Outlook app and tap "Get Started"
Choose "Add Email Account" then Outlook.com
Enter your full @hotmail.com email and password
Tap "Sign In"

Set Up Two-Factor Authentication for your Hotmail Account

First, sign into your Hotmail account on the website outlook.com using your email and password.
Next, you'll see a small icon or picture in the top right corner - click on that. This will open up a menu for your account settings.
From that menu, choose the option that says "View account info" or something similar
Once on the account info page, look for a section labeled "Security" and click on the link for "Two-step verification."
The website will then walk you through setting up two-step verification step-by-step. You'll likely need to provide a phone number where you can receive security codes via text message or automated phone call.
You may also have the option to use an app like Microsoft Authenticator to generate verification codes.
After enabling it, any time you sign into your account from a new device, you'll need to enter both your password and a security code.

What If You Can't Log In At All?

Try these simple troubleshooting tips:

Double check that you are typing in the right email address and password exactly as you set them up. Make sure caps lock is off.
If you forget your password completely, click the "Forgot password?" link to reset it using your security info.
Ensure you have an active internet connection before attempting to log in.
If the website isn't loading properly, try opening it in a different web browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.
As a very last resort, you may need to contact Microsoft's support team for further assistance accessing your account.

The extra step of two-factor authentication is highly recommended! While it adds a small extra step during login, it significantly increases the security of your private email communications and personal data. It's an easy way to get great protection.

Hotmail's Modern Features & Benefits

Even though Hotmail has been around for decades, it has evolved significantly over the years to keep up with modern needs. One of its biggest advantages is unlimited storage space for your emails and attachments. You'll never have to worry about maxing out your mailbox!
Hotmail also allows you to send extremely large file attachments up to 25MB. This makes it easy to share videos, photo albums, and other big files right from your email.
The service works seamlessly across all your devices - computers, tablets, smartphones. Your emails and folders stay synced wherever you use Hotmail.
It offers smart tools to automatically sort incoming mail and filter out spam/junk messages. Hotmail utilizes robust spam detection to keep your inbox clean.

Overall, Hotmail provides a full-featured, user-friendly email experience packed with convenient capabilities for today's digital communication needs. The modern perks make it an excellent email choice.

Managing Your Hotmail Account

Keeping your Hotmail account running smoothly is important. Here are some common account management tasks you may need to do:

If you want to update your password for better security, just log into your account and look for settings to change or reset the password. Follow the prompts to confirm your current password and create a new one.
If emails aren't sending properly, double check that you entered the recipient's email address correctly. Also ensure you don't have any attachment size limits exceeded. As a last resort, you may need to revise your account's outgoing mail server settings.
Hotmail may temporarily block accounts for suspicious activity. Contact their support team if this occurs, explain the situation, and they can investigate and unblock you.
You can permanently delete an old Hotmail account you no longer need through your Microsoft account settings. Or if you can't access an account anymore, there are account recovery options to regain access.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I create a new Hotmail account?

To create a new @hotmail.com account, go to outlook.com and click the "Create Free Account" button. Enter a new email address and password you want to use. Follow the steps to verify your phone number or alternate email, then your account will be ready.

What if the Hotmail email address I want is already taken?

If your desired hotmail.com address is unavailable, Outlook.com will provide you with some alternate suggestions to choose from during account setup. You can also try adding some numbers or periods to make it unique.

Do I need to provide any payment information to make a Hotmail account?

No, creating a @hotmail.com email account is completely free. You do not need to enter any credit card details or payment information.

How do I add my picture or avatar to my Hotmail account?

Once logged into your account on outlook.com, click on the small circular icon at the top right to open your account settings. There you can upload a photo to set as your profile picture or avatar image.

Can I import email from another account to my new Hotmail inbox?

Yes, Outlook.com allows you to import email from other providers like Gmail, Yahoo, AOL etc. Just go to Settings > View all Outlook settings > Sync email and follow the import wizard.

How can I access my Hotmail account from a new computer or device?

Simply open a web browser, go to www.outlook.com and enter your full @hotmail.com email address and password to log in from any computer or mobile device.

How can I access my Hotmail account from a new computer or device?

Simply open a web browser, go to www.outlook.com and enter your full @hotmail.com email address and password to log in from any computer or mobile device.

How do I permanently delete my Hotmail account?

If you no longer need your @hotmail.com account, you can permanently close and delete it. Sign into your Microsoft account, go to Services & Subscriptions > Hotmail > Close Account. Follow the steps to verify and submit your account closure request.

Can I custom create a @hotmail.com alias or change my display name?

Yes, once signed into your account on outlook.com, go to Settings > View all Outlook settings > Sync email. You can add custom email aliases and edit your display name there.

To Sum It Up

Hotmail was truly ahead of its time as one of the first free, web-based email services way back in the 90s. Even today, it maintains a massive loyal user base thanks to its straightforward approach and tight integration with other Microsoft products and services.

With unlimited storage, smart organization tools, and seamless access across devices, Hotmail provides a modern, convenient email experience packed with useful features. The login process is refreshingly simple as well.

So, whether you're looking to create your very first email account or just want to give Hotmail another try after years away, the service is incredibly easy to use and set up. I've been a satisfied Hotmail user for over two decades, and I'd highly recommend giving it a shot!