In this article, we have given detailed information on a web-enabled e-mail service called Hotmail or hotmail.com. Generally, some people assume that India lacks a visionary approach. But that’s not the truth. There have been esteemed innovators like Aryabhatta, a cosmologist and mathematician who developed ‘zero (0)’, and Sabeer Bhatia, an Indian-American entrepreneur who created the Hotmail platform.
Thus, study the article completely to gain knowledge on the Hotmail service, its major features, Hotmail account creation, outlook preview reworking, message layout, outlook personalization, available services, login issues, compatibility on different devices, and customer support, and FAQs.
What is Hotmail & Who Founded it?
Hotmail is the first-ever and most popular electronic mail service introduced in the world. Sabeer Bhatia and Jack Smith started Hotmail in 1996. Later, in 1997, Microsoft bought it for $400 million and revamped it into MSN Hotmail.
The overhauling of Hotmail did not end. It was restyled into Windows Live Hotmail in 2007. Later, it was again renewed in 2013 as Outlook.com. Presently, as claimed by Microsoft, this free e-mail service consists of 400 million engaged users.
Hotmail has been fully substituted by Outlook.com. Still, Hotmail e-mail ids are in use. Now, Hotmail operates as Outlook.com offering limitless storage space for its users (up to 250 MB), malware check, calendar or planner, AJAX, people, junk mail screening, and incorporation of several services like Skype, OneDrive, MS-Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Xbox, OneNote, and Outlook Task.
At present, Outlook.com is referred to as Microsoft Outlook Live.
Hotmail Specialties Summary
Category: E-mail Service, Calendar, Tasks, and Contacts
Languages: Available in 106 languages
Creators: Sabeer Bhatia & Jack Smith
Possessor: Microsoft Corporation
Link: outlook.com
Cost: Free App (Includes Premium services too)
Sign-Up: Needed
Active Users: 400 Million Users
Initiated: As Hotmail on 4 July 1996 & As Outlook.com on 31 July 2012
Present Status: Online
License: Proprietary Software
Now, you have got a basic idea of Hotmail and its background details. Let’s understand the usage of Hotmail.
How to Create Hotmail Account?
You can easily create your Hotmail or Outlook account by visiting the authentic website of MSN Hotmail.
Hotmail URL:
The URL or web address is https://outlook.com or www.Hotmail.com or https://live.com.
Options Available on Hotmail login:
You will see four choices on the Hotmail website:
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Create a Free Account and Sign-in
You can create a free Hotmail account by entering a new e-mail id and a secret code. Also, you can sign in with an existing Microsoft account. You can sign in using a valid e-mail id, phone number, or Skype id.
2. Try Premium
Hotmail offers premium or paid services for its users. You can upgrade your Hotmail/Outlook with Microsoft 365 to avail of Hotmail premium perks and highlights.
3. Support
You can use the Support option while encountering any issue on Hotmail login. You will get support categories like e-mail, calendar, people/contacts, premium, account, troubleshoot, to-do, and files and attachments.
Hotmail offers the latest troubleshooting topics to support its users. Also, it offers customer assistance and community forums to help users.
4. Outlook for iOS and Android
You can try out Hotmail on your iOS and Android devices too. Hit upon Google Play Store (Android) and App Store (iOS) to download and install Hotmail.
Steps to Create An Account on Hotmail
Follow these steps to create your Hotmail account with ease:
At first, visit Google and type the Hotmail URL in the search bar.
You will get the Outlook home page with options such as Get it on Google Play, Sign Up and Sign In.
Hit on the sign-in option to begin.
Now, press on the Create Account option. You will see a text box highlighting New Email. Enter your e-mail address and select the extension from the drop-down menu. The drop-down menu contains two extensions: outlook.com and hotmail.com.
Note: If the username chosen is present already, you will be notified to choose another username.
After entering the e-mail id and extension, hit on Next.
Next, you need to create a strong secret code or password.
Press on the Next option.
Note: Your Hotmail password should contain a minimum of 8 figures. It should include a minimum of two uppercase alphabets, two lowercase alphabets, two numbers, and two special characters. Enter your password and tick or ignore the checkbox that offers convey of Microsoft promotional emails.
After that, you need to type in your Initial and Last name to add more details. Press on the Next alternative.
Next, enter your Country or Region and Date of Birth details and hit on Next. You will get the drop-down menu with a list of countries. Plus, you will see the setup of the birthdate as (mm/dd/yy).
Subsequently, go through the security check process to verify that you are a person and not a robot. You can prove yourself using any of the two options: via a picture or audio.
If you choose the audio verification choice, you have to type the words as you hear. You can write the words in any sequence. Furthermore, snap-on 1 to play the audio again.
Choosing another audio will play new words.
Similarly, if you select the picture verification option, you need to type in the characters in the text box as displayed. But if you cannot identify the characters, hit on the New option. You will get a new image with other characters.
Press on the Next choice after going through the verification process.
Point to Note: You cannot create a new Hotmail account without a mobile number. You need to verify your Hotmail account using your mobile number and OTP (one-time-password) verification. This will attach additional privacy and security to your Hotmail account.
Press on the Send Code option to receive a code. After receiving the code, enter it and press Next. If you did not get a code, hit on I didn’t get a code.
After that, enter the time zone details for the correct time and date information.
Finally, your free Hotmail account is all set up. You can use it to share e-mails and communicate with your contacts.
The method of signing up or signing in to Hotmail on Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and XP is similar with little variation.
We hope that the steps of creating a Hotmail account are clear to you. Now, let’s move to the next segment where you will grasp the customization alternatives in the Hotmail. Subsequently, you will learn about the three layouts of Messages offered on www.hotmail.com or www.outlook.com, or outlook.live.com.
Hotmail or Outlook Layout Customization
If you like adding graphics to your routine tasks and want to enhance your effectiveness, customize your Hotmail account. Hotmail provides options to create, change, and personalize a view.
Views facilitate the way of viewing stuff within the Hotmail folder. Hotmail features as Inbox or Calendar enable you to personalize your account by adjusting settings, fonts, and other details.
Changing the font styles and font sizes in drafting messages, in the Reading Pane, or message list is the most frequent Hotmail customization.
1. Font Change in the Message List:
Firstly, click on View and proceed to View Settings.
Next, move to Advanced View Settings to choose Other Settings.
Now, choose the Row Font or Column Font option.
Pick your desired font size and font style.
Lastly, press the OK option thrice to save the changed fonts.
2. Font Change in the Reading Pane:
You cannot modify the font style or font size in the Reading Pane. But zoom in and zoom out option exists there.
You can brief Hotmail for showing up your emails in regular format. In this way, you can easily check and apply the fonts as per your choice.
For Hotmail Premium Users
Hotmail provides the Zoom Percentage option for its premium Microsoft 365 users. 100 percent is the default zoom percentage. You can set it to any percentage and mark the Remember My Preference option to get the same zoom level on all the receiving messages.
The Zoom option is given at the below right side of the Reading Pane. Click on it to get the Zoom dialog box. Finally, choose your zoom percentage and hit on the OK button.
For Hotmail Non-Premium Users
The selected zoom level tends to change whenever a new message arrives. Thus, as a non-premium Hotmail user, you have the magnification slider option given at the below right corner of the Reading Pane. The magnification slider helps you to zoom in or zoom out the text size.
Font Change in the Message Creation, Message Reply, or Message Forward
Follow these steps to change the font while drafting, forwarding, or replying to messages in Hotmail:
Initially, choose File -> Options -> Mail -> Stationery & Fonts option.
Next, choose Font in the New Mail Messages or Replying or Forwarding Messages option. It will help you to adjust the font size, color, and style of your messages.
Finally, press Ok two times to apply the font changes.
These are the common Hotmail customization tasks. Additionally, you get the option of creating a new view using different views like table, timeline, card, business card, people, day/week/month, icon, and custom view deletion.
Different Message Formats in Hotmail
This section talks about the three message formats in Hotmail. There is some basic difference between these 3 formats in the terms of bullet usage, text styling, and image handling. You need to select a particular Hotmail message format to send clear emails to your receiver.
These three Hotmail message formats are:
1. HTML
HTML is the default message layout in Hotmail. It displays the font colors, font styles, and text alignment in the emails. Your email is visible to your receiver in HTML only, if he has enabled HTML on his webmail account.
2. Plain Text
The plain text format in Hotmail displays the characters or words in a simple way. It does not help in making the text bold, italic or colorful. Images cannot be included within the email. You can combine images only in the form of attachments. Plain Text is the most adaptable message format. It means that each e-mail account can easily decipher your email.
3. RTF (Rich Text Formatting)
Hotmail offers the RTF message format that allows using bullets, aligning, and formatting message body. However, Hotmail suggests the use of HTML format.
How to Set Default Message Format in Hotmail?
Use the following steps to set the default message format in your Hotmail account:
Firstly, hit on the Files choice.
Next, move to Options.
Now, the Hotmail Options dialog box will appear. Choose the Mail option.
Choose the Select the Compose Messages in this Format option. You will see a drop-down menu providing the 3 message formats: HTML, Plain Text, and RTF. Select your preferred message format.
Lastly, snap Ok to save your message format.
Also read: Goodnotes Vs Notability: Which One is Best for You (Complete Coverage)
Different Services Accessible in Hotmail
You can use various services with your Hotmail account. Microsoft supports these popular services. The different services are discussed below:
1. Skype
Skype is a trendy video calling software available for free. You can use Skype within your Hotmail account to share documents. It is accessible over iOS and Android devices. Moreover, you have the option to call a non-Skype person that involves some charges he may have to pay.
2. OneDrive
You can log in to your Hotmail account to use OneDrive services. OneDrive is a prominent cloud storage service that allows you to store 5GB of data without paying any fee. You can save any type of file without any restriction. Plus, cloud storage devices can be retrieved from any place.
3. Xbox
Xbox is a familiar term for Gamers. Still, many of you do not know about Xbox. It is a video game brand owned by Microsoft. Thus, you can easily use the Xbox service with your Hotmail account. Presently, Microsoft offers five Xbox consoles.
4. OneNote
Microsoft provides the OneNote service for those who like making notes. So, sign in to your Hotmail login account to develop and share notes over the web.
5. Microsoft Word
Hotmail allows you the usage of MS Word, the most successful document editing software. It is used for creating a new document, editing an existing document, saving, and printing documents.
There is no need of typing in your email id again and again when you have a Hotmail account. You can avail of these services in Hotmail just with a single click.
6. Microsoft Excel
Hotmail allows you to use MS-Excel for creating charts or tables and apply mathematical calculations or formulas. Microsoft Excel supports applications developed using Visual Basic programming language.
7. Microsoft PowerPoint
Hotmail facilitates the use of MS Powerpoint for creating attractive presentations. Thus, you can attach styled text and multimedia in the presentation slides created using PowerPoint.
8. Outlook Task
Outlook Task is a great option to manage all your daily tasks quickly and smoothly. Hotmail allows you to use Outlook Task to view your pending tasks list and check your completed task list. You can arrange your tasks in a sequence to finish them accordingly. Plus, you can attach the due date to each task.
Major Features of Hotmail
Hotmail offers the following features:
1. Free Webmail Service
Hotmail or Outlook is a free e-mail service of Microsoft Corporation. There are no charges for registering or accessing Hotmail.
2. Active View
Hotmail allows you to directly communicate in emails using the active view.
3. Calendar
The calendar is an important feature present in Hotmail for adding or viewing events. Page reload is not needed for making adjustments in the calendar.
4. Save Contacts
Hotmail offers the Contact feature for managing the connections saved on your phone. Besides, the contacts are refreshed and maintained regularly.
5. MS-Office Integration Online
Hotmail incorporates Microsoft Office online for creating, editing, or viewing Word, Excel, and Powerpoint files within the emails. There is no need of downloading this software.
6. Free & Unlimited Storage Space
Hotmail permits you to store abundant data for free using OneDrive.
7. Security
All of the personal details that Hotmail collects are kept private. Hotmail values your privacy and security. It never circulates your confidential data to the third force. You will receive notifications based on the content.
Hotmail Login on Different Devices
Have a look at the below steps to sign in to your Hotmail account on devices like PC, Android, or iPhone:
1. Steps for Using Hotmail on Android:
Firstly, go to Google Play Store and search for Microsoft Outlook.
When the Hotmail app appears, hit on Install.
Unlock the app after the installation ends.
Next, log in using your email id and secret code.
2. On PC/Laptop:
At first, proceed to Chrome or Mozilla Firefox browser.
Now, type in www.hotmail.com in the search bar at the top.
Enter your email id and secret code when the Microsoft log-in page arrives.
Finally, start using your Hotmail account. Make sure to type in an accurate email address and password.
3. On iOS:
Firstly, install and download the Microsoft Outlook app using your Appstore account.
Then, visit Settings -> Mail -> Add Account.
Choose hotmail.com or outlook.com.
Lastly, fill in your email id and secret code correctly to access your Hotmail account.
Hotmail login/Outlook Login Issues
Some of the common Hotmail or Outlook sign-in issues are:
1. Internet Connection Issues
Make sure to have stable internet connectivity on your smart device to use your Hotmail account. Many times, poor internet connection causes Hotmail login problems. If the internet connection issue persists, immediately connect with your ISP (Internet Service Provider).
2. Not Remember Hotmail login/ Live Mail/Outlook Password
You cannot sign in to your Hotmail account if you cannot memorize your password. Therefore, you have the choice to reset your secret code using these steps:
Unlock the Hotmail login page.
Press on Can’t access your account option.
Hotmail will provide three options to reset or change your password. Pick the alternative that is apt for you.
Choose the first option if you do not remember your Hotmail password.
Pick the second choice if you are sure that you have entered the right secret code. Still, cannot sign in to your account. This happens hardly as computers do not make errors. So, try to review the spelling whether entered correctly or not.
Choose the third option if you think someone may have hacked your Hotmail login account.
Hit on Next after selecting the most suitable option to change your Hotmail password.
You will be asked to type in your Microsoft or Hotmail email id. Human confirmation (captcha filling) is required at this step.
After that, provide your mobile number to get a code for changing your password.
Finally, type in that unique code to reset your Hotmail password.
3. Spelling Errors
Ensure to check the spelling of your Hotmail login email address and password. Email ids and passwords are in small letters always. Thus, check for the caps lock option and turn it off if it is enabled.
4. Locking of Hotmail login Account When Travelling Abroad
Your Hotmail account gets locked when you move to a foreign destination. This happens to guard all your private details from hackers. You can overcome this issue if you remember the answers to secret questions. Ultimately, you can recover your Hotmail account within a moment.
But if the Hotmail sign-in issue continues, you should connect with Hotmail customer support services.
Hotmail Customer Support Numbers
For United Kingdom (UK):
Call +44 (0)344 800 2400
For Australia:
Call 1 800 197 503
For The United States (US):
Call 1-800-642-7676
Skype offers a free calling service in the United States.
Technical Support Team Contact Number:
Call (866) 833-7088
Microsoft Direct for Business Enquiry Contact Number:
Call 1-866-425-4709
For Canada:
Call (800) 876-8533
Hotmail FAQs
How to Log Out from Your Hotmail Account?
You can see your profile pic on the right side of your Hotmail account. You need to click on the picture. Consequently, you will get the sign-out option. Hit on the sign-out option to log out from your Hotmail account.
Where is the Options Menu in the Hotmail?
You will find the Options menu at the top of your Hotmail inbox. It is present on the right side of the inbox. Use Options to make changes in your Hotmail inbox appearance.
How to Append an Attachment in an Email or Calendar?
You will get a picture icon at the top of the Compose Email option. Press on it and choose the image location that you wish to attach to the message. Besides, you can attach an image from your cloud storage.
Is Hotmail Prohibited in China?
No, Hotmail is not barred in China. Even it is not banned in any other countries. Hotmail offers support to 32 countries at present.
Conclusion
We expect that you have understood the basic facts regarding Hotmail or Outlook. Now, you can create, configure, or customize your Hotmail account easily using the steps given above. Additionally, you have the customer care numbers of Hotmail to connect whenever any technical fault arises. So, try out this free webmail service to organize all your official tasks seamlessly.
