Hotmail Login – Hotmail Sign In
To log in to Hotmail, go to outlook.live.com → enter your Hotmail/Outlook email → click Next → enter your password → click Sign in. Done in under 60 seconds.
- Outlook (Hotmail) has 400+ million active users worldwide as of 2026
- Supports @hotmail.com, @outlook.com, @live.com, and @msn.com addresses
- Login works on web browser, Outlook app (Android/iPhone), and desktop clients
- Problems? Reset password at account.live.com/password/reset
Hotmail Login — now officially called Outlook Login — is Microsoft's email sign-in used by over 400 million active users worldwide as of 2026. Originally launched in 1996, Hotmail was rebranded as Outlook.com in 2013 and remains the world's second most popular email service. With 15 GB of free storage, built-in calendar, and Office integration, this guide covers every way to sign in and fix any login problem in 2026.
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No matter whether you continue to use your @hotmail.com, @outlook.com, @live.com, or @msn.com email address, all accounts can be accessed through the same Outlook login page. If you're having difficulty logging in on a computer, mobile device, or using the Outlook app, this article will walk you through the steps.
Don't have an account yet? Read our Hotmail Sign Up guide to create one first.
Hotmail Login On PC
- First, launch your web browser.
- Then, navigate to either www.outlook.com or www.hotmail.com — these addresses will take you to the Outlook login page.
- Find and click the "Sign In" button located on the top right.
- If you use Hotmail or Outlook, type in your address (for example, [email protected]).
- Press the Next button.
- Enter your password.
- Choose whether you want to select "Keep me signed in" if you are on your personal device.
- Login to view your inbox.
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Hotmail Login On Mobile
Hotmail Login On Mobile Browser
- Launch your mobile web browser.
- Please go to outlook.live.com.
- Pull down the Sign In menu.
- Please provide your login credentials.
- Finish the two-factor authentication process if it is available.
- To gain access to your account, tap the link.
Hotmail Login On Mobile App (Android & iOS)
- Get the Outlook app from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).
- Tap on Add Account after opening the app.
- Log in using your Hotmail or Outlook email account.
- Press the Continue button. Please input your password.
- Verify the login using two-factor authentication (2FA) if it is enabled.
- To access your inbox messages without leaving the app, tap the "Sign In" button.
Hotmail Login with IMAP/POP/SMTP
Hotmail can be configured in Gmail, Thunderbird, Apple Mail, and Microsoft Outlook desktop using IMAP, POP, or SMTP settings. If you like to keep track of all your email accounts in one place, this is a great option for you.
1. Hotmail IMAP Settings (Recommended)
Your emails are kept in sync across all devices via IMAP. Any time you read, delete, or transfer an email on one device, it shows up on all your devices.
- Incoming Mail (IMAP) Server: imap-mail.outlook.com
- Port: 993
- Encryption: SSL/TLS
- Username: Your full Hotmail/Outlook email address
- Password: Your Hotmail/Outlook password
2. Configuration for Hotmail POP
Emails can be downloaded to your device using POP, but they won't be able to sync with other devices. If you merely want to check your email on one device, this is the way to go.
- Incoming Mail (POP) Server: pop-mail.outlook.com
- Port: 995
- Encryption: SSL
- Username: Your full Hotmail/Outlook email address
- Password: Your Hotmail/Outlook password
3. Configuring Hotmail's SMTP Server for Email Sending
If you want to send emails from Hotmail with third-party apps, you'll need SMTP.
- Outgoing Mail (SMTP) Server: smtp-mail.outlook.com
- Port: 587
- Encryption: STARTTLS (recommended)
- Username: Your full Hotmail/Outlook email address
- Password: Your Hotmail/Outlook password
4. Configuration in Any Email Client
- Launch the email program that you prefer, such as Gmail, Apple Mail, or Thunderbird.
- Navigate to the Add Account or Accounts & Import menu entries.
- Choose between IMAP (the preferred option) and POP.
- Kindly enter your Hotmail login credentials.
- Simply provide the IMAP/POP and SMTP settings that are given above.
- Save the configuration and try sending and receiving emails.
Troubleshooting Hotmail Login Issues
1. Forgotten Password
- Go to account.live.com/password/reset in your browser.
- Select "I forgot my password" and enter your Hotmail or Outlook email address.
- Choose a verification method — Microsoft will send a code to your recovery phone number or backup email address.
- Enter the verification code and follow the prompts to create a new password.
- Once reset, sign in with your new password and consider updating it in any saved password managers.
2. Account Locked
To prevent unauthorized access, Microsoft may lock accounts that show suspicious login activity. Follow these steps to unlock it:
- Visit account.live.com/unlock and enter your email address.
- Complete the identity verification steps — Microsoft may ask for a code sent to your phone or backup email.
- If verification succeeds, your account will be unlocked. Note: it may take up to 24 hours for access to be fully restored in some cases.
- After unlocking, change your password immediately and review your recent sign-in activity.
3. Two-Factor Authentication Issues
If you have two-factor authentication (2FA) enabled but lost access to your authenticator app or phone, try these options:
- Use a backup code: Go to your Microsoft account Security settings and look under "Advanced security options" for backup codes you saved during 2FA setup.
- Verify via email: If you set a recovery email, choose "Use a different verification option" on the sign-in page.
- Contact Microsoft Support: Visit support.microsoft.com and open a case — Microsoft support agents can help you verify your identity and regain access.
4. Incorrect Password / Authentication Error
- Check that Caps Lock is turned off — passwords are case-sensitive.
- Try signing in through an incognito or private browser window to rule out browser extension conflicts or cached credential issues.
- If you recently changed your password elsewhere, make sure you are using the latest one.
- If the problem persists, reset your password at account.live.com and sign in again with the new credentials.
Hotmail Login Not Working? Common Fixes
If you cannot sign in to your Hotmail or Outlook account, try these targeted solutions:
Hotmail Sign In Not Working on Browser
Clear your browser cache and cookies. In Chrome: Settings → Privacy → Clear browsing data → Cookies + Cached images → Clear data. Then visit outlook.com again. Try a different browser if the problem persists.
Hotmail Login on iPhone
Open the Outlook app → tap your profile icon → Add Account → enter your Hotmail/Outlook email. If using the iPhone Mail app, go to Settings → Mail → Accounts → Add Account → Outlook.com and sign in with Microsoft credentials.
Hotmail Forgot Password – Reset Steps
Visit account.live.com/password/reset. Enter your email and choose to receive a code via your recovery phone or email. Enter the code, create a new password, and sign in. If you have no recovery options, click "I don't have any of these" for identity verification.
Hotmail Account Locked – How to Unlock
Microsoft locks accounts after too many failed sign-in attempts. Visit account.live.com/unlock, complete the CAPTCHA, and verify your identity. The account typically unlocks within 24 hours after successful verification.