Industry guru Dave Taylor offers free tech support on a wide variety of technical and business topics, including HTML, Apple iPhone, online advertising, Cascading Style Sheets, Web design, management, Unix, Linux, search engine optimization, online dating, Mac OS X, shell script programming and Microsoft Windows.

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:

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:

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:

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:

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.

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)
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?

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Comments

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.

Posted by: Eliot O. at December 29, 2006 8:27 AM

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

Posted by: Brenda Murillo at February 21, 2007 7:01 PM

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.

Posted by: JAMES COX at March 15, 2007 7:36 AM

none of my hot mail is inbox?

Posted by: standeria bowe at March 28, 2007 11:26 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

Posted by: dave at December 17, 2007 10:02 AM

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

Posted by: a at May 27, 2008 2:01 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

Posted by: justin at July 9, 2008 7:40 AM

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

Posted by: jayan mathew at November 11, 2008 11:29 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 ?

Posted by: Kaye Volk at December 16, 2008 3:04 PM

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

Posted by: deb at December 26, 2008 1:36 AM

what happened to hotmail.com

Posted by: jim at January 27, 2009 6:18 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

Posted by: Daniel at February 5, 2009 1:17 PM

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

Posted by: ferdi ess at March 9, 2009 10:11 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.........

Posted by: dan clay at March 10, 2009 10:48 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

Posted by: Zana at March 27, 2009 8:46 AM

Posted by: fatima at May 11, 2009 11:05 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.

Posted by: Katji at May 19, 2009 5:59 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.

Posted by: peter at June 3, 2009 3:56 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.

Posted by: earl at June 15, 2009 7:28 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?

Posted by: Lexia at June 17, 2009 10:53 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.

Posted by: Mary at July 2, 2009 7:01 AM

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

Posted by: Pete Whittaker at July 6, 2009 7:34 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

Posted by: uche at August 1, 2009 12:41 PM

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

Posted by: nate at September 7, 2009 8:36 PM

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

Posted by: kassie at September 18, 2009 11:19 PM

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

Posted by: kassie at September 18, 2009 11:21 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

Posted by: kassie at September 18, 2009 11:25 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

Posted by: Mary at October 5, 2009 1:23 PM

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

Posted by: Bernard kuhunya at October 29, 2009 5:25 AM

good job

Posted by: Sanaullah Khan at November 14, 2009 8:40 AM

HOW CAN I CHANGE FROM FREE HOTMAIL TO PAID HOTMAIL.

Posted by: JOEL FAGBORUN at December 19, 2009 7:38 AM

Dave
I am 66 yrs old, divorced and not sexually active, however, I get over 15 emails daily from persons with hotmail accounts. All of these emails are for Viagra or Pfizer products.
When I try to return, asking to remove me, it comes back "unknown". I have put them into my spam account, but would still love to remove ALL emails coming from hotmail accounts at this time. Between the Pfizer emails and the Viagara emails, I am sick of em all.
I would appreciate help you can give.
Thanks loads.....

Posted by: Maggie at February 26, 2010 9:21 AM

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

Posted by: kardo at March 5, 2010 5:25 AM

this is cool

Posted by: 727233 at March 15, 2010 1:31 PM

I have something to say, now that you mention it, but ...

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a cup of coffee!

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