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Old Hotmail accounts are now managed through Outlook.com. Your address may still end in @hotmail.com, @hotmail.co.uk, or another Hotmail domain, but you use the Microsoft account password associated with that address to sign in.
Open Outlook.com in a browser, select Sign in, and enter your complete old Hotmail address. If you cannot remember the password or Microsoft does not recognize the address, use the recovery steps below before assuming the mailbox has been deleted.
Sign in to an old Hotmail account
- Open https://www.outlook.com. You can also use Microsoft’s alternate sign-in address: https://outlook.live.com.
- Select Sign in.
- Enter your full Hotmail email address, including the correct domain, such as
yourname@hotmail.comoryourname@hotmail.co.uk. - Select Next.
- Enter the Microsoft account password used by the old Hotmail account, then select Sign in.
If the credentials are accepted, Outlook.com opens the old inbox. Hotmail and Outlook.com use the same Microsoft account system, so you do not need a separate “Hotmail login” page or a new Outlook password.
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Recover a forgotten Hotmail password
On the Microsoft sign-in screen, select Forgot password? and follow the verification prompts. If that option is no longer displayed, open Microsoft’s Reset password page, enter the old Hotmail address, and select Next.
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The usual recovery sequence is:
- Choose an available method for receiving a verification code.
- Select Next.
- Enter the requested account or contact information.
- Select Send code.
- Enter the code on the Verify your identity screen and select Next.
- Type a new password in New password, then enter it again in Re-enter password.
Use a password that you have not used on another service. Microsoft support agents cannot send you a password-reset link or change the account details for you. If the normal reset process fails, use Microsoft’s Recover your account form, also called the Sign-in Helper. It accepts the email address, phone number, or Skype name used to sign in.
When Microsoft says the Hotmail address does not exist
Check the address carefully before starting account recovery. A single character or the wrong country domain can produce an account-not-found message.
| Check | Example |
|---|---|
| Spelling | Confirm that the username is spelled exactly as created. |
| Domain | Try the original domain, such as @hotmail.com or @hotmail.co.uk; do not automatically change it to @outlook.com. |
| Other sign-in names | Try another alias, phone number, or Skype name linked to the same Microsoft account. |
| Saved credentials | Check your browser’s password manager, old phones, email apps, or documents where the complete address may be stored. |
An old Hotmail address may be an alias rather than the account’s primary address. Aliases share the same inbox, contacts, settings, and password, and an enabled alias can normally be used to sign in.
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Fix “This username has been turned off for sign-in”
The message “This username has been turned off for sign-in. Try a different one” means that particular alias is disabled for sign-in. It does not necessarily mean the entire Microsoft account or inbox is gone.
To find another enabled sign-in alias:
- On the sign-in page, select Forgot your username?.
- Enter the blocked Hotmail address.
- Receive the verification code sent to the account’s primary alias.
- Enter the code.
Microsoft should display aliases that can still be used to sign in. Use one of those addresses at Outlook.com, then manage the account’s sign-in names from Manage how you sign in to your account.
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Check whether the account may have been deleted
Microsoft says a personal account that has not been signed into for more than two years may have been deleted. This is not a guarantee that every account inactive for exactly two years was deleted, but an account removed by Microsoft cannot be restored through password recovery.
If the recovery form cannot identify the address and you have not used it for a long period, deletion is one possible explanation. Microsoft also cannot recreate a deleted old Hotmail address as an alias.
Manage an old Hotmail alias
After signing in with another alias, open your Microsoft account’s sign-in settings and select Manage how you sign in to your account.
- To make another address the main sign-in name, select Make primary next to it under Account username.
- To remove an alias, select Remove beside it.
Do not remove an old Microsoft-domain alias casually. Removing an alias ending in @hotmail.com, @hotmail.co.uk, @live.com, @outlook.com, or @msn.com permanently deletes that alias. Microsoft says it cannot later be attached to any Microsoft account.
Microsoft no longer lets users create new @hotmail.com, @live.com, or @msn.com aliases. Existing Hotmail, Live, Outlook.com, and MSN addresses also cannot be added to another Microsoft account. If you need a new address, Microsoft’s current route is to sign out and create a new account, but that will not reproduce a deleted old address.
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What if you can sign in but cannot open the inbox?
A Microsoft account created only with a third-party address, such as a Gmail address, may not have an Outlook.com mailbox. Microsoft’s current Outlook.com behavior requires adding a first-party alias—such as @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, @live.com, or @msn.com—before Outlook.com inbox access and related Outlook features are available.
Also check the account’s storage. If the Outlook.com mailbox or connected OneDrive storage is full, Microsoft says the account cannot send or receive email. Delete unnecessary messages and files, then empty the relevant deleted-items folders to free space.
Resolve temporary blocks and unusual sign-in warnings
Microsoft may temporarily block sign-in after unusual activity, such as accessing the account from a new device or location. The service may ask you to confirm your identity or change the password.
Use Microsoft’s Sign-in Helper rather than repeatedly guessing passwords. Repeated failed attempts can make the recovery process more difficult. Complete the identity checks using an email address or phone number that you can currently access.
Sign out after using a shared computer
Since February 2025, Microsoft’s browser sign-in behavior generally keeps users signed in unless they select Sign out or use private browsing.
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- Select your profile picture in Outlook.com.
- Select Sign out.
- Close all browser windows, especially on a shared or public computer.
If Firefox does not show Sign out in the profile menu, clearing Outlook.com cookies and site data may resolve the current issue. You can still access the Microsoft profile page at account.microsoft.com/profile.
Set up the account in Outlook for Windows
If you are using the desktop Outlook app rather than the browser and automatic setup fails, create a separate Outlook profile and configure the account manually:
- Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
- Enter
outlook /profiles. There is one space betweenoutlookand/profiles. - In Choose Profile, select Options, then New.
- Enter a profile name and continue.
- Select Advanced options.
- Enable Let me set up my account manually.
- Enter the old Hotmail address and password, then select Connect.
If the account itself cannot sign in at Outlook.com, creating an Outlook desktop profile will not bypass the problem. Recover access in the browser first.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.FAQ
Is Hotmail still available?
Yes. Hotmail addresses can still be used where the Microsoft account remains active, but the mailbox is accessed through Outlook.com at https://www.outlook.com or https://outlook.live.com.
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Can I get back an old Hotmail address that Microsoft deleted?
No. Microsoft says an account deleted after prolonged inactivity cannot be restored through recovery. A deleted Microsoft-domain alias also cannot later be attached to another Microsoft account.
Why does my Hotmail address work for Microsoft account sign-in but not show an inbox?
The account may have been created with only a third-party address and may not have an Outlook.com mailbox. Add a first-party Microsoft alias, such as an Outlook.com or Hotmail address, if Microsoft offers that option.
Can Microsoft support reset my Hotmail password for me?
No. Microsoft support agents are not permitted to send password-reset links or access or change account details. Use the Microsoft password-reset page or Sign-in Helper.
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Go to Outlook.com, select Sign in, and use the complete old Hotmail address with its Microsoft account password. For a forgotten password, choose Forgot password? or use Microsoft’s Sign-in Helper. Check spelling, country-specific domains, aliases, account inactivity, and storage limits before concluding that the mailbox is gone.
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