- New Outlook.com address or your own email?
- Steps to create a Microsoft account for Outlook
- Check you don't already have one
- What a free Microsoft account gives you
- When Microsoft won't let you sign up
- Signing in to your new account
- Adding the account to classic Outlook for Windows
- Support can't reset it for you
- Keeping the new account to yourself
- My verdict on creating an Outlook account
- Frequently asked questions
To create an Outlook account, go to outlook.com and select Create free account, then choose your new address, create a password, enter your name, your country or region and birthdate, and verify with the code Microsoft sends. What you're making is a Microsoft account, and as of October 2026 your Outlook.com password is the same as your Microsoft account password.
The one thing to know before you pick a name: Microsoft says addresses used for Microsoft accounts can't be reused. Even if an account was closed a long time ago, you can't create a new account with that old address. So if you're trying to get back an old Hotmail address you once had, sign-up won't do it, and recovery is the only route.
New Outlook.com address or your own email?
| You want | Where to start, as of October 2026 |
|---|---|
| A new Outlook.com email address | Go to outlook.com and select Create free account |
| A Microsoft account using an email you already have | Select Create an account, or go to signup.live.com, and enter your existing address |
| An account for a child | Start the same way: a parent or guardian also needs to sign in to finish setting it up |
| To get back an old Hotmail address | Sign in at outlook.com, or use the sign-in troubleshooter if you've forgotten the details |
Hotmail is now Outlook.com, so you won't find a separate Hotmail sign-up. Microsoft's help says that to sign in to an old Hotmail account, you go to outlook.com and select Sign in.
Steps to create a Microsoft account for Outlook
- Select Create an account, or go to signup.live.com. For a brand new Outlook.com address, go to outlook.com and select Create free account instead.
- Enter your email address, or the new Outlook.com address you want.
- Create a strong password and click Next.
- Enter your first and last name and click Next.
- Select your country or region and your birthdate, and click Next.
- Enter the captcha code and click Next.
- Verify your email address by entering the code Microsoft sends to it, then click Next.
Check you don't already have one
You may already have a Microsoft account without realising it. Microsoft's way to check is simple: go to the sign-in page at account.microsoft.com and enter your email address.
- If you see a password prompt, that address is already a Microsoft account.
- If you see We couldn't find an account with that username, or That Microsoft account doesn't exist, it isn't one.
- If you think it should be, check the spelling of both the name and the domain. Microsoft's own examples are rachel versus rachael, and .com versus .co.uk.
- The account may also have been closed.
If it turns out you do have one and you've forgotten the password, select Forgot password? and follow the instructions, or use Microsoft's Sign-in helper tool for other sign-in problems.
What a free Microsoft account gives you
Microsoft lists four things included with a free account. You get free online versions of Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. You get 5 GB of cloud storage for files and photos you can reach from any device. You get Microsoft Rewards, where you earn points that can be redeemed for gift cards, charitable donations and sweepstakes entries. And you get access to the Xbox network and community. One login covers all of it.
When Microsoft won't let you sign up
If you can't create a new Microsoft account, Microsoft suggests two alternate options. Try a different sign-up method, such as an email address instead of a phone number. Or try creating the account from a different device.
If the problem is setting up a new PC with a new Microsoft account, Microsoft offers two workarounds. You can get started with an existing Microsoft account and add your new one later. Or you can set the PC up with a local account and change it to a Microsoft account afterwards. Microsoft also has a separate article for the Let's help you move forward error if that's the screen you're stuck on.
Signing in to your new account
Once it's created, you sign in at outlook.live.com with your Microsoft account username and password. A few things from Microsoft's sign-in help are worth knowing early:
- Microsoft watches for unusual sign-in activity. If you're travelling or on a new device, it might ask you to confirm it's really you.
- Your account might be temporarily blocked if Microsoft notices unusual sign-in activity, and there's a separate unblock process for that.
- Starting in February 2025, you stay signed in automatically in a web browser unless you sign out or use private browsing. On a computer, phone or tablet that isn't yours, use a private browsing window.
- If you haven't signed in for more than 2 years, Microsoft says your account may have been deleted.
That last point is the one that catches people out with old Hotmail accounts. If you want to keep a new address, sign in to it now and again.
Adding the account to classic Outlook for Windows
If you use the classic Outlook desktop app, you can add your new Outlook.com address to it. Microsoft says this works for accounts ending in @outlook.com, @live.com, @hotmail.com or @msn.com, and its steps apply to Outlook for Microsoft 365 and Outlook 2024, 2021, 2019 and 2016. You can use the same steps for your first account or for extra ones.
- Open Outlook and select File > Add Account.
- Enter your email address, then select Connect. Your username is your full Outlook.com address.
- If prompted, enter your password again, then select OK, and Finish.
If Outlook keeps asking for your password and won't accept one you know is right, you probably have two-step verification on. In that case Microsoft says you'll need an app password or an authenticator app to add the account.
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Support can't reset it for you
It's worth knowing before you need it: Microsoft says its support agents aren't allowed to send password reset links, or access and change account details. For sign-in trouble, Microsoft says most issues can be identified by its Sign-in helper tool, so start there. For other technical problems, go to Contact Microsoft Support, enter your problem and select Get Help, and if you still need help, select Contact Support to be routed to the best option.
If you can sign in but Outlook.com itself is misbehaving, Microsoft suggests checking the service status first. If the status isn't green, wait until the service is running normally and try again. That one check can save you an hour of changing settings that were never the problem.
Keeping the new account to yourself
Because browsers now keep you signed in by default, it's worth building one habit from day one. Microsoft says that on your own computer your browser will remember your sign-in, but on a device that doesn't belong to you, or that other people use, you should use a private browsing window. Private browsing helps stop others getting into your Microsoft account, OneDrive or Outlook.com mailbox, and seeing your search and browsing history.
To sign out of Outlook in a web browser, select your profile picture and then Sign out, and close all browser windows afterwards. If you've lost access to a device where you were signed in, Microsoft has a separate sign out everywhere option. And if you're signing in with a work or school account rather than a personal one, Microsoft's sign-in steps for Outlook on the web are different.
My verdict on creating an Outlook account
I'd create a new Outlook.com account if you want a free address that also opens the online Office apps and 5 GB of storage. I'd skip sign-up and go to recovery if you're chasing an old Hotmail address, because Microsoft won't hand out a used address again. If you're weighing it up against Google, my comparison of Gmail vs Outlook may help. Once it's created, here's how to set up Outlook on iPhone so your new mail's in your pocket.
Frequently asked questions
Is an Outlook account the same as a Microsoft account?
Yes. Microsoft says your Hotmail or Outlook.com password is the same as your Microsoft account password, and one Microsoft account gives you access to Microsoft products and services with a single login.
Can I reuse an old Outlook or Hotmail address?
No. Microsoft says addresses used for Microsoft accounts can't be reused, even if the account was closed a long time ago.
Is creating an Outlook account free?
Yes. You go to outlook.com and select Create free account. Microsoft says a free account includes online Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint and 5 GB of cloud storage.
What if Microsoft won't let me create an account?
Microsoft suggests trying a different sign-up method, such as an email address instead of a phone number, or using a different device.
Can my Outlook account be deleted if I don't use it?
Microsoft says that if you haven't signed in to your account for more than 2 years, it may have been deleted.
