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How do I get a Hotmail account?

I know that Yahoo and Google's Gmail are probably more trendy, but I'm interested in getting an MSN Hotmail account. How do I do that and what should I consider when I'm signing up?


Dave's Answer:

Signing up for a Hotmail account is a breeze, actually. Start here: Sign up for an MSN Live Account (they're all the same backend system, btw).

Your first choice is to use an existing email address, which won't help you with Hotmail, needless to say, or to actually sign up to get a Hotmail account:

Signing up for a free MSN Live / Hotmail account

Choose the option to sign up for Hotmail and you'll now have a number of different sections you'll need to fill out, starting with your desired "email handle". You can easily spend rather a while at this point trying to figure out exactly what is available. For example:

Signing up for a free MSN Live / Hotmail account

As you can see, someone got to taylor@hotmail.com before me, darn it, so I can't use that address. A bit of experimentation, however, and I find a good match and am ready to go to the next section where I create an initial password. As always, use a complex password with letters, digits, and some punctuation too.

Next up is where many people end up getting messed up, the "reminder" question:

Signing up for a free MSN Live / Hotmail account

As you can see, there are a number of different questions you can use to help you prove you're who you say you are if you lose or forget your password. Whatever you pick, remember it well as it's quite possible you'll need to use it again down the road...

The next block asks for your profile information, including the all-important zipcode field:

Signing up for a free MSN Live / Hotmail account

Why is the zip code so important? Because almost every time I get a query from someone who needs to recover their account access, they've forgotten what zip code they used when they signed up. Best, of course, is to use your actual zip code, but that can be a bit of a trick if you're not based in the United States. Of course, if you specify in the very beginning that you're not based in the US, the profile area changes to ask for your postal code, province, etc. Some countries (like Syria) have no postal code, so it's not even an option for them.

Anyway, suffice to say that your best bet is always to use accurate and correct information as best you can when you're signing up so you avoid trouble and problems down the road!

Finally there's a captcha block to ensure that you're a person, not a robot or spam application, and you get a chance to read the Hotmail terms of service and click on the all-important "I Accept" button.

Signed up for a free MSN Live / Hotmail account

That's all there is to it. Click on "Continue" and you're all hooked up and ready to go with Hotmail. Congratulations.

Oh, and don't forget the many Hotmail Help articles here at AskDaveTaylor too, now that you're signed up and ready to go!


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Categorized: Computer and Internet Basics   (Article 7108, Written by )
Tagged: free email, gmail, hotmail, msn hotmail, msn live, yahoo mail
Previous: How can I send a fax from my computer?
Next: How can I get a secure connection to Gmail?




Reader Comments To Date: 45

Eliot O. said, on December 29, 2006 8:27 AM:

I'd anser that question with another question, namely, why on earth would you want a garbage hotmail account? The use of Javascript, prohibits opening multiple emails in tabs/windows, thus making use more annoying and slower. That's just one example. Also, Microsoft has a habit of emailing you weekly to 'inform' you of features and products -- spam, in other words.

Gmail is quite nice, however Google can correlate and link your email (whose ads sent to you are based on the text of your emails -- icky) to your Google.com searches. Google actually saved your search history (& you can access it as well). Also pretty icky to me.

Since I use google.com almost exclusively to search, I chose another good free email account -- Yahoo. Never had a problem in years of use. They also let you create temporary email addresses linked to your real account which you can deleteas desired. And for $20/year you can get multiple addresses on your account, no ads at the bottom of messages, larger attachments, and POP mail (and mail forwarding). And I think Yahoo has the best spam filters around too. Check it out -- it's free.

Brenda Murillo said, on February 21, 2007 7:01 PM:

see my brother already has a msn but i want to get onw too. now how do i do that??

JAMES COX said, on March 15, 2007 7:36 AM:

I did something and with my msn in my email address I can not get my hotmail recepion. Thank
you for allowing me to use the hotmail address for recepion.

If this is not the way I understand the deal please advise.

standeria bowe said, on March 28, 2007 11:26 AM:

none of my hot mail is inbox?

dave said, on December 17, 2007 10:02 AM:

i would like a hotmail v ery very much a all
my friends have one and they said to me you don't have and i say that i am go to get so that why i ask you at i sand email to my friends

a said, on May 27, 2008 2:01 AM:

i asked my password to be ssnt to an alternative email but i haven't recieved it

justin said, on July 9, 2008 7:40 AM:

hi there. whenever i sign into my hotmail and check my e-mail it comes up in just text, script and code, buncha weird numbers. etc. but everyone else e-mail works fine. mine used to til yesterday, but it still not working. do you have any ideas on what to do? thanks bud

jayan mathew said, on November 11, 2008 11:29 PM:

Please helpme
last 12years i have a hotmail account but from the last week i cannot open it. what i have to do for getting my old accout active

Kaye Volk said, on December 16, 2008 3:04 PM:

have tried for over a week to get into my hotmail. am so frustrated as I found out who was messing with it.No clue or password will get me in isnt there anything else I can do besides get a new e-mail address ?

deb said, on December 26, 2008 1:36 AM:

Hey Dave! Luv the help you send out for eveyone!!! Never thought Id be in the "need", but you get it all the time.... How do I hack into my live account (formaly hotmail). I dont know what I did or if someone got into my account. I had this knitgal hotmail account for ever, and hardly use it anymore once i set up my new knitgal live account. Now I cant get into the knitgal live account.........help!!! I followed all the steps and no info matches. Thanks Deb

jim said, on January 27, 2009 6:18 PM:

what happened to hotmail.com

Daniel said, on February 5, 2009 1:17 PM:

Hi Dave I was wondering for hotmail will no longer link to outlook axpress for free hotmail members. Is there another email I can use that will link or how do I become a paid hotmail member and how much does it cost thanx, Daniel

ferdi ess said, on March 9, 2009 10:11 AM:

i try to connect but without success. Could you please help me? i had an address but for not being in the country I`m unable to connect to the address. Would you be able to help me?
Thanks.
Your`s
Ferdi Ess

dan clay said, on March 10, 2009 10:48 AM:

I have a account with Hotmail, my problem is I receive an e-mail from some of my friends, my other friends tell me that they do e-mail me that I do not receive them. I have e-mailed them, they say they e-mailed me back, but I do not receive their e-mail. Can you help me out on this problem please. dan.........

Zana said, on March 27, 2009 8:46 AM:

heey, that's not work to my computer please help me:S They Said me: Windows Live ID is experiencing some technical difficulties while creating your account.. I hate this:@ :S

fatima said, on May 11, 2009 11:05 AM:

hi

Katji said, on May 19, 2009 5:59 AM:

Dave, I thought I needed more space and all that so I signed up for a Hotmail live account. Dear Lord, I lost ALL my contacts, and files I had painstakingly honed and saved. I couldn't transfer them. I thought I could have multiple email accounts, but not with Hotmail, and so I canceled the account but can't find a way to recover my old Hotmail account. Please help me find my old email. katjikelly@hotmail.com I know it's still out there somewhere.

peter said, on June 3, 2009 3:56 AM:

Hi I have a account with hotmail,and forgot my password,now I have tried to use my account and it wont let me,It keeps telling me that my password has been sent to my account,which I can't open to get my password catch 22, could you please help,I don't know if you can do anything from your end,because I won't be ably to open my account to read your reply.

earl said, on June 15, 2009 7:28 AM:

I searched "I can't get into my hotmail account" and you came up!!!! When I try to open it says "can't find server or DSN error". I can get to every other page so I'm connected!!!! I opened a new windows live account and linked so I could get to it but now that doesn't work. I went to library and got right to my account. Something must be on my computer. I've done Malware and it comes back no problems. can you help.

Lexia said, on June 17, 2009 10:53 AM:

I am trying to set up my son a hotmail account. When I get to the section for verifying I am a adult it states my credit card info. cannot be verified. This has been going on for days. What do I need to do?

Mary said, on July 2, 2009 7:01 AM:

Do you have any idea why the number 4 has popped up in my hotmail link? It's a square with a number 4 at the beginning of Windows Live Hotmail.
Thanks.

Pete Whittaker said, on July 6, 2009 7:34 PM:

My question is the same as many here - about my old hotmail account, and I did read that the new 'windows Live'no longer supports 'hotmail' - but I'd really like to have my own control back to delete it if I wish - I'm over it 'cause I have a yahoo mail now, but I'm very curious and would like to open my old hotmail.
Pete

uche said, on August 1, 2009 12:41 PM:

forr 2 weeks now i have been tring to sign up for a new windows live messenger account but it says that i cant do so, that i should wait 24 hour and try again. still it wount work. sign up and send me the email name and password pls. i will like to use my windows live messenger.am countin on u

nate said, on September 7, 2009 8:36 PM:

do not remember password. can not get any one to send it to natecuffy@gmail.com. can not get in my hotmail.

kassie said, on September 18, 2009 11:19 PM:

how do i get a good zip code i tryed my zip code but it sayed its being used.

kassie said, on September 18, 2009 11:21 PM:

well dave i tryed my e-mail it worked but my zip code didnt

kassie said, on September 18, 2009 11:25 PM:

dave i need help i really do will please help me i need it and i will do anything if you give me a good useable zip code. please right back kassie

Mary said, on October 5, 2009 1:23 PM:

Hello Dave,
I have a "hotmail" account that I have had for years and recently a virus attached itself to my contact list and sent it all over the world. I have no idea how I got this. Also, within the last week, I have not been able to send emails with attachments.

Since I have had this email address so long, I would hate to get rid of it, what do you suggest?

Thank you,

Mary

Bernard kuhunya said, on October 29, 2009 5:25 AM:

If want to open a hot mail account do i have to use the same password for my current yahoo account

Sanaullah Khan said, on November 14, 2009 8:40 AM:

good job

JOEL FAGBORUN said, on December 19, 2009 7:38 AM:

HOW CAN I CHANGE FROM FREE HOTMAIL TO PAID HOTMAIL.

kardo said, on March 5, 2010 5:25 AM:

Error code: 450 : 0x800482d5 : 2010-03-05T11:45:10 GMT
i can doing new email hotmail

727233 said, on March 15, 2010 1:31 PM:

this is cool

Naveed said, on April 13, 2010 9:45 AM:

Hi,

When I send email from my hotmail account, the other person gets the email but from another email address.

Please tell me what is the solution to it.

JoAnn H. said, on July 11, 2010 2:37 PM:

I have been trying for days to get into my hot mail account and I've been locked out. I can't check my email and I can't find any customer support. Can you please help me or tell me who to contact?

parku111 said, on August 1, 2010 5:56 AM:

you are number one

Danielle said, on August 13, 2010 5:45 AM:

For some reason for days now I have not been able to use any of the options on my insert tab of my hotmail account. So in short I can not send attachments. :( Bing also downloaded itself onto my browers. Can this be the problem and how do I uninstall Bing.

Thank you!

Danielle

Ravi Shankar said, on October 12, 2010 6:58 AM:

my account grish7_bh@hotmail.com Block please my request A new code was sent. The old one won't work.

Ankit said, on January 6, 2011 7:54 PM:

I just got one too. Love Hotmail so far. the sweep feature, filtering emails, searching (using bing in email), sky drive are simply awesome !

Sue said, on June 23, 2011 11:02 AM:

My account will not let me forward photos contained in emails sent to me. It suddenly happened. I searched for settings but could find none. Help!

jenglow said, on November 29, 2011 2:12 PM:

I can't open a hotmail account. It keeps telling me that the mobile number I put in isn't valid for my part of the world. I live in Ireland. I have tried three different ones and it's always the same.

I only want this account to try to find out why it keeps stripping my Incredimail backgrounds off the ones I send to my friends who have hotmail accounts, and see if I could do anything about it. It's more than annoying it's upsetting.

Mohamed said, on June 14, 2012 2:51 PM:

Hi I have a account with hotmail,
I have a "hotmail" account that I have had for years and I have been trying since last days to get into my hotmail account and I've been locked out. I can't check my email and I can't find any customer support. Can you please help me or tell me who to contact?

please send to this email
mheisas87@gmail.com

sahil said, on July 7, 2012 5:37 AM:

how can I simplify my signup ?

haytham.yassin@live.com said, on November 2, 2012 6:06 PM:

haytham.yassin@live.com

john howell said, on November 26, 2012 5:21 AM:

how do i get a hotmail account

Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!











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