How to Sign In to Outlook: Web, App & Fixes

Q: How to sign out of Outlook?

In the web version, click your profile picture and select Sign out. In desktop or mobile apps, access account settings and choose Sign out or Remove account.

If you’ve been typing “outlook.live.com” into your browser and wondering why your old Hotmail address still works — or why nothing happens when you hit enter — you’re in the right place. Your Outlook login flows through a single Microsoft account system, and once you know the three places to look, the whole process takes under a minute. Below is a step-by-step guide covering every login method, plus the official path to recovering your account when your memory fails you.

Primary Login Domain: outlook.live.com · Alternative Login: outlook.office.com · Microsoft Account Required: Yes · Supports Hotmail: Yes · App Download Available: Yes

Quick snapshot

1Web Login

Go to outlook.live.com (Microsoft Support)
Enter any @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, @live.com, or @msn.com address (Microsoft Support)
Your Outlook password is your Microsoft account password (Microsoft Support)

2Office 365

Go to outlook.office.com for Microsoft 365 work accounts (Microsoft Support)
Requires organization-issued email, not personal address (Microsoft Support)
Includes Teams and SharePoint integration (Microsoft Support)

3Desktop App

Download Outlook from Microsoft officially (Microsoft Support)
Syncs mail, calendar, and contacts across devices (Microsoft Support)
Works offline once initially connected (Microsoft Support)

4Password Reset

Reset at account.live.com/password/reset (Microsoft Account Recovery)
Requires alternate email or phone verification (Microsoft Account Recovery)
Microsoft cannot retrieve your password — only reset it (Microsoft Account Recovery)

Three different login portals, one underlying account system. Whether you’re on a browser, desktop app, or your phone, the credentials are identical.

Access Point	URL	Account Type	Notes
Main Login URL	https://outlook.live.com/mail/inbox	Personal Microsoft account	Free tier, 15 GB storage
Office Login	https://outlook.office.com/mail	Work/school account	Requires Microsoft 365 subscription
Account Type	Microsoft account	Single sign-on	One password for all Microsoft services
Hotmail Support	Integrated	@hotmail.com, @live.com, @msn.com	All redirect to Outlook portal

How do I sign in to Outlook?

Open a browser and head to outlook.live.com — that’s the consumer portal. You can also reach it via outlook.office.com if you have a Microsoft 365 work account, but for personal email, the first URL is what you want.

Web browser login steps

Navigate to outlook.live.com
Click Sign in in the upper-right corner
Enter your email address — this works with @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, @live.com, or @msn.com
Select Next and enter your password
Complete two-factor authentication if prompted

According to Microsoft Support, your Outlook.com password is identical to your Microsoft account password. There’s no separate credential — use the password tied to your Microsoft account.

Desktop app sign in

Download the Outlook desktop application from Microsoft
Launch the app and select Add Account
Choose Outlook.com for personal accounts or Exchange for work accounts
Enter your email address and Microsoft account password
Allow the app to sync your data — this may take a few minutes on first login

Mobile sign in process

Download the Outlook app from the App Store or Google Play
Tap Get Started and enter your email address
Authenticate using your Microsoft account password, fingerprint, or face recognition
Grant permissions for calendar and contacts access

The implication: once you sign in on any device, your emails, calendar events, and contacts sync automatically. If you change your password on one device, you’ll need to update it everywhere.

The catch

If you’re logging in from an unusual location or a new device, Microsoft may require additional verification even with the correct password. This is intentional — it blocks unauthorized access attempts from unfamiliar IP addresses.

How to sign in to Hotmail using Outlook?

In 2013, Microsoft retired the Hotmail brand and moved everything to Outlook. Your @hotmail.com address didn’t disappear — it just started loading through Outlook’s portal.

Hotmail to Outlook migration

Go to outlook.live.com
Enter your @hotmail.com, @live.com, or @msn.com address instead of an @outlook.com address
Sign in with your existing Microsoft account password
Your old Hotmail inbox, contacts, and settings are already there

Use same Microsoft account

The rebrand in 2013 transferred Hotmail accounts under the Outlook umbrella without requiring any action from users. Your inbox, sent folder, and contacts transferred automatically — you just access them via a different URL now.

The pattern: legacy Microsoft email addresses work indefinitely. Microsoft maintains backward compatibility rather than forcing users to create new addresses.

Why this matters

Businesses that registered @hotmail.com addresses in the early 2000s still use them today. There’s no deadline for “upgrading” — the addresses work exactly like any other Microsoft account, with no action required.

How to log in to Outlook 365?

Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) uses a separate portal for work and school accounts. The login URL and credential requirements differ from the free consumer Outlook.

Office 365 web access

Go to outlook.office.com
Enter your work or school email address (your company domain)
You’ll be redirected to your organization’s sign-in page
Authenticate using your company’s identity system — this may be password, SSO, or a hardware token depending on your IT policy

Download required?

You don’t need to download anything for web access — outlook.office.com works directly in your browser. The desktop and mobile apps are optional but offer offline access and additional features.

What this means: Consumer Outlook is free. Microsoft 365 is a paid subscription that bundles OneDrive storage, Microsoft Teams, and desktop Office apps. The web portal is identical, but the account type determines what features you access.

The trade-off

If your organization provides Microsoft 365, your IT department sets the security policies — including password expiration rules and multi-factor authentication requirements. You may not control your own sign-in settings.

What if I forgot my Outlook login password?

Forgetting your password doesn’t mean losing your account. Microsoft provides a reset path, though the process changes depending on whether you still have access to recovery options.

Password reset steps

Go to account.live.com/password/reset
Enter the email address associated with your Microsoft account
Select a verification method: alternate email or phone number
Enter the code sent to your recovery option
Create a new password and confirm it by entering it twice

According to Microsoft Support, identity verification via code to your alternate email or phone is required before any password reset proceeds. If you set up two-factor authentication, you’ll also confirm via that method.

Account recovery options

If you’ve lost access to both your recovery email and phone number, the recovery process becomes more involved. Microsoft asks you to provide detailed information about your account usage for manual review.

Without recovery options on file, Microsoft cannot verify your identity and the account becomes unrecoverable. Ask Leo explains that Microsoft doesn’t store your password anywhere — they can only reset it after verifying you own the account.

The implication: Without any recovery options on file, Microsoft cannot verify your identity. The only alternatives are checking your browser’s saved passwords or a password manager where you may have stored the credential. For more information on signing in and troubleshooting common issues, you can refer to the mouse cookie summary.

The upshot

Microsoft doesn’t store your Outlook.com password, so it’s impossible to retrieve it from them. Your only options are password reset or checking your browser’s saved passwords. There is no “forgot password” email that contains your old password.

How to sign up for Outlook?

New to Outlook? Creating an account takes a few minutes and gives you access to Microsoft’s entire ecosystem of services using one set of credentials.

Create free Microsoft account

Visit outlook.live.com
Click Create free account
Choose your email address domain — @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, or @live.com
Enter a desired username, create a password, and provide your first and last name
Verify with a phone number or alternate email address
Complete the CAPTCHA and agree to the terms of service

Outlook.com signup process

The signup process at outlook.live.com creates a Microsoft account automatically. Once registered, you can access Outlook email, OneDrive (5 GB free), and other Microsoft services using the same credentials.

What this means: A single Microsoft account opens doors to Outlook email, Xbox gaming, Microsoft Store purchases, and Microsoft 365 integrations. The free tier is generous — 15 GB of Outlook storage with no subscription required.

Bottom line: Your Outlook sign-in always runs through a Microsoft account. For personal email, use outlook.live.com with any @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, @live.com, or @msn.com address. For work accounts, use outlook.office.com with your organization’s credentials. If you forgot your password, the reset path at account.live.com/password/reset requires verification through your recovery email or phone — Microsoft cannot retrieve your password, only reset it. New users: signup is free and takes under five minutes. Business users: check with your IT department before creating a personal account if you intend to use your work email.

“Your Outlook.com password is the same as your Microsoft account password.”

— Microsoft Support, Official Documentation

“Microsoft doesn’t store your Outlook.com password, so it’s impossible to retrieve it from them.”

— Leo Notenboom, Tech Expert – Ask Leo

Additional sources

youtube.com, youtube.com, youtube.com, youtube.com, support.microsoft.com

For extra help with persistent login glitches on web or apps, this step-by-step email login guide covers platform-specific Outlook solutions effectively.

Frequently asked questions

How do I access my Outlook email?

Navigate to outlook.live.com for personal accounts or outlook.office.com for work accounts. Sign in with your Microsoft account credentials — your Outlook password is the same as your Microsoft account password.

What is the difference between Outlook and Hotmail?

Hotmail was rebranded to Outlook in 2013. Both @hotmail.com and @outlook.com addresses now work through the same Outlook portal — your inbox transferred automatically when the change happened.

Can I sign in to Outlook without a Microsoft account?

No. All Outlook services require a Microsoft account. You can create one during the sign-in process if you don’t have an existing account.

How to enable two-step verification for Outlook?

Sign in at account.microsoft.com, go to Security, and select “Two-step verification.” Follow the prompts to connect your phone number or authenticator app.

What browsers work best for Outlook sign in?

Microsoft recommends the latest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. Some older browsers may have compatibility issues with certain Outlook features, particularly calendar integrations.

How to sign out of Outlook?

In the web version, click your profile picture and select “Sign out.” In desktop or mobile apps, access account settings and choose “Sign out” or “Remove account.”

Is Outlook email free?

Yes, personal Outlook.com email is free with 15 GB of storage. Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) is a paid subscription that adds OneDrive storage and access to desktop Office applications.