How do I verify my Windows Live email address?

I have my Windows Live account set up but keep getting an error message that I need to verify my address. Since my address is part of the Windows Live network (hotmail) I'm a bit confused: how do I verify my addr?

Dave's Answer:

Truthfully, this is a pretty simple question because as far as my experience the only time you would see a message about verifying your email address in the Windows Live network is when you also have a link adjacent that lets you do just that.

But I'll cut you some slack because I know all too well that these complicated Web interfaces can be surprisingly complex and confusing, even when others think it's simple and immediately obvious. Heck, if everything were easy and obvious I probably wouldn't have so many people coming to my Web site every day!

More seriously, when you log in to the Microsoft Windows Live network using http://account.live.com/ (I have deliberately not made that a clickable URL, btw. Copy and paste or type it in for yourself to ensure you aren't getting tricked!) the first thing you should see is:

Click on "Verify your e-mail address" and...

Make sure that's the address you desire to verify (if not, you'll need to tweak some settings to update it) then click on "Send e-mail".

Message sent!

Within a few minutes in the mailbox, you'll see a message similar to this:

Again, don't click on the link, copy and paste it into your Web browser (darn those hackers and their phishing attempts anyway!). Assuming everything works properly, here's what you'll see:

Done! Now you should never see the "unverified" error again.

Categorized: Windows PC Help (Article 9473, Written by Dave Taylor)
Tagged: account security, microsoft windows, verify email, windows live
Previous: How do I reset my Windows Live password?
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Comments

Hi!
First of all I would like to thank you for this, but I have another question.. they sent me an email that says that if I don't verify my account it will be deactivated within 24 hours. They also put a link that I should click, where I ''supposedly'' should verify my account. The thing is that this link doesn't open, and I'm worried about it, because I don't want my account to be deacctivated.

Posted by: sofy at June 28, 2010 1:36 PM

Oh yeah.. I forgot to say.. what should I do so my account isn't deactivated??

Posted by: sofy at June 28, 2010 1:39 PM

hi people i do this steps but may problem is that i sign up in email adrres in @surrey.ac.ukw and now i cant have my verfection email what can i do plz answer me wating for u

Posted by: elias at December 9, 2010 12:14 PM

Well, the problem is that I cannot access to my inbox, so how in earth I can verify my new windows live email address?? Terrable information, totally useless for me in this case.. ;(

Posted by: Atte at December 15, 2010 4:43 AM

My problem is I never receive the verification e-mail. I know my email is typed correctly. No matter how many times I have it resent it never shows. I,m in this endless loop and can never use the service.
Thanks

Posted by: Todd at December 15, 2010 6:27 AM

Well, here is an issue I'm having. When I click on "Send email", I wait and yet nothing. I am aware that i tells me, "If you don't see the email message in your inbox, look for it in your junk mail folder or check your email again later."
But when I click on my inbox it takes me back to where I have to send an email to verify and I can't go anywhere else. It keeps sending me back to "Send email." Is there some sort of issue with my settings or something?

Posted by: Luis Escobar at July 10, 2011 1:28 PM

Lol! The funny thing with me is whenever I click the inbox, it says "page not found". How am I suppose to confirm the email when I cannot get to the inbox. I am starting to dislike it lol, I tried all sorts of links then it says "not found" or says that I re-directed many pages. What the? lol.

Is there a certain link we have to use, to open the inbox from the url on the browser? Since it doesn't allow you to open the inbox from the navigation on that page. I am so confused....

Posted by: Jazzy at July 16, 2011 1:25 AM

I have the same issue, once I have created my Windows Live account, I ask for the email to be sent, or I ask for it to be 're-sent' but I cannot access my Inbox, when I click ont he 'Hotmail' drop down tab, and then click 'Inbox' I get taken back to the original page asking me to verify my account. It's a vicious loop, I'm assuming as so many people have the same problem it's a glitch in the site?

Posted by: Vikki at July 25, 2011 8:36 AM

I just received a message (sent by Windows Live Team ---email-verification@windowslivemail.com---) asking for my account verification:

Dear Customer,

Your Windows Live Email account has exceeded
its limit and needs to be verified, if not verified
within 24 hours, we shall suspend your account.
Click here to verify your email account now

Thank you
Windows Live
2011 Microsoft

....Above the message there's a legend that says Hotmail awares me about the posibility of that this could be a suspicious e-mail according to their smartscreen filters.

...I entered the http://account.live.com add and it didn't ask for any validation, ...so I'm pretty sure it's not an official link.

I posted this in case anyone receive a suspicious e-mail like this, and of course grateful for your site and information,

greetings :D

Posted by: Ame at August 18, 2011 12:55 AM

i did that but when i want to check the email confirmation it still comes out to me "Verify your email address
You've created example555@example.co.uk as your Windows Live ID. To use your Windows Live ID, we need to verify that this is your email address. To verify, you can check your email at example555@example.co.uk and follow the instructions in the message we sent you.

If you do not have access to this email account, you can change your Windows Live ID now.
Need another email message to verify your Windows Live ID?" i tried to check my inbox more than 100 billion times the same thing comes out please help me

Posted by: Max Townsind at January 3, 2012 8:26 AM

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!