Hotmail was one of the first webmail services on the Internet: www.Hotmail.com. Hotmail was launched on July 4, 1996, and then Hotmail was sold to Microsoft in December 1997 for a reported $400 million.

Transition to Outlook.com

Outlook.com was first introduced on July 31, 2012 with beta version. Existing Hotmail customers could freely upgrade to the preview version of Outlook.com and downgrade back. According to Microsoft, the upgrade was deployed on April 3, 2013; the user kept their existing Hotmail accounts and received the option of having an @outlook.com email address.

To get started with Hotmail email, you need to create Microsoft Account. A Microsoft Account gives you access to Microsoft products like Hotmail/Outlook, OneDrive, Skype, Office, MSN, Store, Xbox Live and much more.

microsoft products

How to Sign in to Hotmail.com

Sign in to Hotmail.com on the web

  1. Navigate to Hotmail at https://www.hotmail.com/ or https://outlook.com. It will redirect you to https://login.live.com/
    hotmail sign in
  2. Enter your Hotmail Email Address or Phone number into the upper box. This field is not cAsE SeNsItIvE.
  3. Now enter your Hotmail Password. Your Password is case sensitive.
  4. We recommend that you got the "Keep me signed in" checkbox selected. This ensures that you won’t be constantly interrupted to re-enter your password.
  5. Click "Sign In".

Sign in to Hotmail.com on iPhone/iPad (iOS)

Built-in Mail app on iOS

STEP 1 : Go to Settings > Accounts & Passwords > Add Account

STEP 2 : Select "Outlook.com . The setting procedure is similar to that of Hotmail, Live, or MSN email account.

 hotmail ios

STEP 3 : Enter your Hotmail email address, password and account's description.

Be careful that you have to enter your full email address, whose ending is either one of these following @outlook.com, @hotmail.com@msn.com, or  @live.com, or @outlook.co.uk, etc,...

STEP 4 : Select what data if you want to sync with Hotmail (your email, contacts, calendars, and reminders). And tap "Save"

hotmail iphone

STEP 5 : Change "Mail Days to Sync" setting (Default : 1 Week). If you want to have access to all of your emails, choose No Limit.

setup hotmail ios

After you're signed in, follow any additional prompts and begin using your Outlook for iOS app.

Microsoft Outlook app on iOS

STEP 1 : Install Microsoft Outlook app from Apple Store.

STEP 2 : Launch app and enter your full email address. And tab "Add Account".

outlook ios

STEP 3 : Enter your login credentials and tap "Sign in".

After configuring your synchronization settings, you account is ready to use now.

Sign in to Hotmail.com on Android

Sign in using Microsoft Outlook app on Android

STEP 1 : Install Microsoft Outlook app from Google Play store.

STEP 2 : Launch it and you’ll be prompted to enter your email address and password.

Hotmail Android

STEP 3 : After configuring a few synchronization settings, you’ll see your inbox. The official Hotmail app

hotmail android config

Sign in using Built-In Email App

STEP 1 : Open your built-in email client
Tap Settings > Accounts > Add account > Exchange.

hotmail built-in app

STEP 2: Enter your Hotmail  username and password.

Notice: Type your full email address for example hotmailcom-login@outlook.com (or @hotmail.com, @msn.com, @live.com , @outlook.co.uk)

STEP 3: See the full tutorial about config IMAP, POP3 and SMTP for Outlook / Hotmail.

STEP 4 : Account options

Change default sync setting if you want.

After configuring your synchronization settings, your account is ready to use now.