Content

• To step
• Tips

If you've forgotten your password or your profile has been locked out for a violation of the Terms of Use, you can use the "Recover Microsoft Account" page to reset your password. You need an email address or phone number associated with your account or you can use the verification app. And otherwise you have to answer a number of questions to verify your identity.

To step

1. Open the Outlook homepage.com. Hotmail's name has changed to Outlook.com, but you can still get there from the Outlook.com login page. Your Hotmail account still works with Outlook.com.
   • You can restore inactive accounts up to 365 days after you last logged in. Accounts that have not been used for more than a year will be deleted.
   • After manually deactivating an account, you have 30 days to reactivate it, after which it will be permanently deleted.
2. Click on the link "Don't have access to the account?"You can find this under the fields where you enter your e-mail and password.
3. Select "I forgot my password" and click "Next".
4. Enter the Hotmail address for which you forgot the password in the top text field. Enter the characters you see in the bottom text field. Click on "Next".
5. Select an authentication method. To access the password reset page, you must verify your identity with Microsoft. There are several ways to do this, depending on the contact preferences you have set for this account.
   • Email - If you have an alternate email address associated with your account, a verification code will be sent to that address. You must have previously provided this secondary email address.
   • Use an app - If you have downloaded the "Microsoft account" app, you can use this app to generate a unique code that can be used to identify your identity. In this case, too, you must have adjusted your account in advance to be able to use this app.
   • SMS - If you have a phone number associated with your account, Microsoft can send you an SMS with a unique code that verifies your identity. To use this, you must have already linked the phone number to your account when you still had access to it.
   • I have none of this information - This option may also be called "I no longer use this information". If no recovery information is associated with your account, you can choose this option to answer a questionnaire to verify your identity for Microsoft. This method is not guaranteed to work, especially if you can't remember old details about your account.
6. Fill in the questionnaire (if necessary). If you selected the option "I don't have any of this information" you will need to complete a questionnaire to prove that you own the account. This security measure is there to prevent others from gaining unlawful access to your personal emails. Before you start you need to provide an alternate email address, if you don't have one you can create one for free.
   • You will be asked about passwords you have previously used, the date the account was created, and other matters related to your account. Try to answer these questions as accurately as possible. These questionnaires are assessed for accuracy by Microsoft personnel. It may take a few days for you to receive an answer.
7. Get a verification code. Once you have selected your verification method, you will receive a code that will allow you to access a page to reset your password.
   • If you selected email as the verification method, make sure to check all possible locations, including the Junk Email folder. If you are using Gmail or Google Inbox, please check the "Updates" section.
8. Enter your verification method. If you still have the page open, you can enter the code in the box. If you have closed the verification page, you can reopen it by going through the account recovery process again and selecting the same contact method.
9. Enter a new password. After you have entered the verification code, you will be taken to the page where you can reset your password. Here you enter a new password that will allow you to access your Hotmail account in the future. Click here for tips on how to come up with a strong password that you can still remember.
10. Log in to your account. The moment you reset your password, it will immediately become your new account password. Use your new password to access your Hotmail account on the Outlook.com login page.

Tips

• There's no Microsoft email address or phone number you can use for help with things like a forgotten password. You can only use the automated tools described in this article.