If you’ve been typing www.hotmail.com into your browser expecting the old login screen, you’re redirected to outlook.live.com. Your @hotmail.com address still works, but you must sign in through Microsoft’s Outlook portal.

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Launch Year: 1996 ·
Current Owner: Microsoft ·
Rebranded To: Outlook ·
Sign-In URL: outlook.live.com ·
Account Type: Microsoft Account

Quick snapshot

1Quick Access
2Key Changes
3Timeline Signal
4What’s Next
  • New Outlook deployments exclusive after cutover (Pass4Sure Blog)
  • Legacy Outlook for Mac supported through October 1, 2026 (University of Kentucky IT Help)
  • Automatic sign-in rolling out February 2025 (Microsoft Support)

Six key facts about Hotmail’s evolution tell the story in numbers.

Label Value
Primary URL outlook.live.com
Founded 1996
Acquired By Microsoft (1997)
Current Platform Outlook
Inactivity Deletion 2 years
Account Type Microsoft Account

How do I sign in to www.hotmail.com?

The sign-in process is straightforward once you know where to look.

Redirect to Outlook.live.com

  • Navigate to outlook.live.com in your browser
  • www.hotmail.com automatically redirects here (Microsoft Support)
  • The old hotmail.com sign-in page no longer exists as a standalone endpoint

Enter Microsoft account credentials

  • Use your @hotmail.com, @outlook.com, or any Microsoft-linked email address
  • Enter your password and complete two-factor authentication if enabled
  • Starting February 2025, users stay signed in automatically unless they sign out or use private browsing (Microsoft Support)

Troubleshoot common sign-in issues

  • Incorrect password: Use the “Forgot my password” link or go to account.live.com/password/reset
  • Browser issues: Clear cache and cookies, or try a different browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox)
  • Account locked: Wait 24 hours or use the account recovery process at support.microsoft.com
Bottom line: The Microsoft account system handles authentication for both legacy and new accounts. Use outlook.live.com for all sign-ins.

“Microsoft has unified Hotmail and Outlook credentials into a single Microsoft account system. This means your @hotmail.com address routes to the same credential store as @outlook.com addresses.”

— Ask.com News

The implication: legacy Hotmail users don’t need a separate login—they use the same Microsoft account infrastructure as Outlook.com users.

What is Hotmail email?

Hotmail was one of the first free web-based email services, founded in 1996 and acquired by Microsoft in 1997. The service underwent significant transformations over the decades.

History of Hotmail

Hotmail launched as one of the first webmail services, pioneering the concept of accessing email from any computer with an internet connection. Microsoft acquired the service in 1997, integrating it into the Windows family of products. The service went through several rebrands: Windows Live Hotmail in 2005, then Outlook.com in 2012.

Transition to Outlook

Microsoft introduced Outlook.com in 2012 as the rebranding of Windows Live Hotmail (Windows Forum). Existing Hotmail users retained their @hotmail.com addresses after this transition. New users after 2012 could only sign up for @outlook.com email addresses, not @hotmail.com.

Current features

Today’s Outlook platform includes 1TB of OneDrive storage, integration with Microsoft 365, and access across web, mobile, and desktop applications. The new Outlook for Windows now supports Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud, and IMAP account support (Directions on Microsoft).

Why this matters

Hotmail users who haven’t changed their password in years should update their credentials now. Accounts inactive for more than two years face permanent deletion (Microsoft Support).

Bottom line: Hotmail is now Outlook.com. Your old @hotmail.com address is preserved, but the entire service runs on Microsoft’s modern infrastructure with significantly expanded storage and features.

“Previously existing Hotmail accounts can still be logged into the Outlook website for normal use. All your old emails remain accessible after the transition.”

— Microsoft Learn

What this means: existing Hotmail users didn’t lose access to their email history when Microsoft transitioned to Outlook.com in 2012.

How do I create a www.hotmail.com account?

Creating a new account requires using Microsoft’s current signup system, which offers the @hotmail.com address as an alias option.

Use signup.live.com

  • Go to signup.live.com in your browser
  • Enter your desired email address
  • Select @hotmail.com from the dropdown if available
  • Complete the required fields (name, password, country, birthdate)

Choose @hotmail.com alias

When creating your account, the signup page offers three domain options: @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, and @live.com. If your preferred @hotmail.com username is available, you can claim it during the signup flow. Microsoft issues new @hotmail.com addresses on a first-come, first-served basis.

Verify new Microsoft account

  • Confirm your phone number via text or call
  • Enter the verification code sent to your phone
  • Optionally add a secondary email for recovery
  • Accept the services agreement to complete setup
What to watch

Popular @hotmail.com usernames disappear quickly. If you want a specific handle, try adding numbers or variations during signup. If your preferred address is taken, you can still use your @outlook.com address for all Microsoft services.

Bottom line: No direct “www.hotmail.com signup page” exists — Microsoft routes all account creation through signup.live.com, where @hotmail.com remains available as an alias choice.

The catch: Microsoft has not opened new @hotmail.com registrations since 2012, but existing users who abandoned their addresses may release handles back into the pool periodically.

What is Outlook Hotmail?

Outlook Hotmail refers to the integration of legacy Hotmail accounts into Microsoft’s broader Outlook ecosystem, creating a unified email experience.

Integration details

Legacy Hotmail addresses are treated as Microsoft account aliases and route to the same credential store as @outlook.com addresses (Ask.com News). This means your @hotmail.com login takes you to the same unified inbox as @outlook.com users. Previously existing Hotmail accounts can still be logged into the Outlook website for normal use (Microsoft Learn).

Accessing legacy emails

All your old Hotmail emails remain accessible after the transition. When you sign in through outlook.live.com with your @hotmail.com credentials, your entire email history is preserved. The interface changed in 2012, but your data remained intact.

Differences from original

The main difference is the user interface and feature set. The original Hotmail interface was basic webmail. Today’s Outlook includes calendar integration, OneDrive storage, Microsoft Teams connectivity, and a redesigned inbox with Focused Inbox and other productivity features.

Bottom line: “Outlook Hotmail” is the same inbox you always had — just accessed through Microsoft’s modern email platform with a redesigned interface and expanded features.

The pattern: Microsoft absorbed Hotmail users into the Outlook ecosystem without requiring them to create new accounts, preserving backward compatibility while modernizing the backend.

How to access old Hotmail sign in?

Accessing your old Hotmail account works the same as accessing any Microsoft account today, with a few specific steps for legacy users.

Use outlook.live.com

  • Go directly to outlook.live.com
  • Enter your @hotmail.com address
  • Sign in with your existing password
  • Your full email history loads automatically

Recover forgotten credentials

  • Visit account.live.com/password/reset
  • Enter your @hotmail.com address or the associated phone number
  • Microsoft sends a verification code to your recovery email or phone
  • Create a new password and regain access

Regional access like Hotmail UK

  • There is no region-specific Hotmail login page
  • All @hotmail.com addresses work globally through outlook.live.com
  • UK users access the same sign-in portal as all other regions
  • Language and regional settings adjust automatically based on browser preferences
The catch

If you haven’t signed in to your account for more than 2 years, your account may have been deleted (Microsoft Support). Microsoft typically sends warning emails before permanent deletion, offering a 30-60 day grace period to reactivate.

Bottom line: Old Hotmail accounts work on the new platform as long as they haven’t been inactive for two years. Microsoft provides account recovery tools at support.microsoft.com for users who have forgotten their credentials.

The implication: users who abandoned their Hotmail accounts more than two years ago likely cannot recover them without proof of ownership and may face permanent deletion.

Related reading: Article Rewriter Free Guide · Translate to English Tools

Additional sources

askwoody.com, support.microsoft.com, youtube.com, outlook.live.com

Related coverage: Microsoft Hotmail sign-in guide fördjupar bilden av Microsoft Hotmail Sign In – Outlook.com Access Guide.

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Frequently asked questions

Does www.hotmail.com still exist?

No — www.hotmail.com no longer exists as an independent site. It redirects to outlook.live.com, Microsoft’s current email portal. Your @hotmail.com address still works, but you must sign in through the Outlook portal.

Can I get a new @hotmail.com address?

Yes, during the Microsoft account signup process at signup.live.com, you can choose @hotmail.com as your email domain if your preferred username is available. No separate Hotmail signup page exists, but the option appears in the signup flow.

Why can’t I access my old Hotmail?

Common reasons include entering the wrong password, having an account deleted due to inactivity (over two years), or browser issues blocking the sign-in page. Start with the password reset tool at account.live.com/password/reset. If your account was deleted for inactivity, check your email for a recovery warning.

Is Hotmail free?

Yes — the Hotmail/Outlook consumer email service remains free for personal use. Microsoft generates revenue through premium Microsoft 365 subscriptions, which add OneDrive storage beyond the free 5GB allotment, Office apps, and other productivity features.

How do I change Hotmail password?

Sign in at account.microsoft.com, select “Change password” under security settings, verify your current password, enter your new password twice, and click Save. Enable two-factor authentication for added security.

What is the Hotmail app?

Microsoft discontinued standalone Hotmail apps years ago. Today, you access Hotmail through the Outlook mobile app (available for iOS and Android) or through outlook.live.com in a mobile browser. The Outlook app handles @hotmail.com, @outlook.com, and other connected accounts.

Does Hotmail support IMAP?

Yes — Hotmail/Outlook.com supports IMAP for use with third-party email clients. Configure your email client with these settings: imap-mail.outlook.com (port 993, SSL required). POP3 access is also available at pop-mail.outlook.com (port 995, SSL required).

Beyond the classic webmail experience, Microsoft continues modernizing its email ecosystem. Legacy services like Outlook Express and Windows Live Mail have been retired, and Exchange Web Services (EWS) used by legacy Outlook for Mac will be retired on October 1, 2026 (University of Kentucky IT Help). Commercial customers with classic Outlook will retain support until at least 2029, though Microsoft has not provided a concrete timeline for when the desktop client will be discontinued. The shift reflects broader industry movement toward web-based and unified communication platforms.

For legacy Hotmail users, the path forward is clear: use outlook.live.com for web access, download the Outlook app for mobile, and keep your account active at least once every two years to avoid deletion. Microsoft has promised at least 12 months’ notice before any forced transition to the new Outlook for Windows, giving users ample time to adapt (Pass4Sure Blog).