Frequenty Asked Questions
How to Access Free Windows Live Hotmail via POP in Any Email Program
Plus, more, extra, addition, bonus, ultra: plus gives you more.
You don't need a Windows Live Hotmail Plus subscription, though, to download incoming Windows Live Hotmail messages to any desktop email program or another web-based email service perhaps if it supports fetching mail using the tried and true post office protocol (POP). Of course, you can send mail using your Windows Live Hotmail address from that email program, too.
Access Free Windows Live Hotmail via POP in Any Email Program
To set up a Windows Live Hotmail account using POP, pick your email program from the list or see below for general settings.
To access a Windows Live Hotmail Plus account in any desktop email program:
- Create a new account using the following settings:
- POP (incoming) server: pop3.live.com
- POP port: 995
- POP SSL required: yes
- POP user name: your complete Windows Live Hotmail address (including "@hotmail.com", "@live.com", etc.)
- POP password: your Windows Live Hotmail password
- SMTP (outgoing) server: smtp.live.com
- SMTP port: 25
- If you run into problems sending mail, try "587" for the SMTP port instead.
- SMTP SSL required: yes
- SMTP authentication: yes
- SMTP user name: your full Windows Live Hotmail email address
- SMTP password: your Windows Live Hotmail password
Note that free POP access is currently available to users in
- Australia
- Brazil
- Canada
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Japan
- the Netherlands
- Spain
- the United States and
- the United Kingdom.
In any other country, you may need that Windows Live Hotmail Plus subscription after all.
More Tips
Access Free Windows Live Hotmail in Gmail
To set up Windows Live Hotmail for sending and receiving mail in Gmail:
- Follow the Settings link in Gmail.
- Go to Accounts.
- Click Add another mail account under Get mail from other accounts:.
- Type your Windows Live Hotmail address under Email address:.
- Click Next Step ››.
- Enter your full Windows Live Hotmail email address again under Username:.
- Type your Windows Live Hotmail password under Password:.
- Now enter "pop3.live.com" (not including the quotation marks) under POP Server:.
- Enter "995" under Port:.
- Make sure Always use a secure connection (SSL) when retrieving mail. is checked.
- Optionally:
- Check Leave a copy of retrieved message on the server. unless you want all your Windows Live Hotmail email only in Gmail.
- Have Gmail apply a label (so you can identify messages from your Windows Live Hotmail account) by checking Label incoming messages:.
- See incoming messages only under the auto-assigned label or All Mail by checking Archive incoming messages (Skip the Inbox).
- Click Add Account ››.
- Make sure Yes, I want to be able to send mail as... is selected.
- Click Next Step ››.
- Click Next Step ›› again.
- Now click Send Verification.
- Switch to the main Gmail window and go to the Inbox.
- Open the Gmail Confirmation - Send Mail as... message as soon as it arrives (this may take a couple of minutes).
- Highlight and copy the Confirmation code.
- Paste the code into the Enter and verify the confirmation code form.
- Click Verify.
Access Free Windows Live Hotmail in iPhone Mail
Yahoo! Mail, Gmail, AOL and MobileMe: all this is nice, of course, and of very little use when you have a Windows Live Hotmail account and want to access it in iPhone Mail.
Fortunately, a smart service can turn any Windows Live Hotmail or MSN Hotmail account into a POP or IMAP account that looks regular and accessible to any email program — including iPhone Mail. With IzyMail, you can access Windows Live Hotmail transparently and see your custom folders, too.
If you prefer not to hand your log-in credentials over to IzyMail, you can also set up free Windows Live Hotmail as a POP account and download incoming messages as well as send. If a dedicated Windows Live Hotmail app for the iPhone or iPod touch makes you happy, take a look at mBox Mail.
Access Free Windows Live Hotmail in iPhone Mail Via IMAP (Requires IzyMail Subscription)
To add a Windows Live Hotmail account to iPhone Mail using IzyMail and IMAP access — which gives you seamless access to all folders:
- Make sure your Windows Live Hotmail account is registered with IzyMail.
- Tap Settings on the iPhone Home screen.
- Now tap Mail, Contacts, Calendars.
- Choose Add Account... under Accounts.
- Tap Other.
- Now tap Add Mail Account.
- Enter your name under Name.
- Tap your full Windows Live Hotmail address under Address.
- Enter your Windows Live Hotmail password under Password.
- Tap "IzyMail Hotmail" under Description.
- Now tap Save.
- Tap OK to the error message.
- Choose IMAP.
- Under Incoming Mail Server:
- Enter "in.izymail.com" under Host Name.
- Verify your full Windows Live Hotmail address is entered under User Name.
- Under Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP):
- Enter "out.izymail.com" under Host Name.
- If you run into problems sending mail later, you can try "out.izymail.com:587" instead.
- Verify your complete Windows Live Hotmail email address is entered under User Name.
- Enter "out.izymail.com" under Host Name.
- Tap Save.
- (After waiting a while,) tap Yes to have iPhone Mail attempt to connect without SSL encryption.
- Back in Mail, Contacts, Calend... settings, tap IzyMail Hotmail.
- Tap Advanced.
- Select Drafts Mailbox.
- Choose _Draft under On the Server.
- Tap Advanced.
- Select Sent Mailbox.
- Choose _Sent under On the Server.
- Tap Advanced again.
- Select Deleted Mailbox.
- Choose _Trash under On the Server.
- Press the Home button.
Access Free Windows Live Hotmail in iPhone Mail Via POP (Totally Free)
To set up downloading new Windows Live Hotmail messages using POP (totally free and easier to set up, but without access to your online folders) in iPhone Mail:
- Tap Settings on the iPhone Home screen.
- Select Mail, Contacts, Calendars.
- Now tap Add Account... under Accounts.
- Choose Other.
- Now tap Add Mail Account.
- Type your name under Name.
- Enter your full Windows Live Hotmail address under Address.
- Tap your Windows Live Hotmail password under Password.
- Now tap Save.
Note that message you send from iPhone Mail will not appear in your Windows Live Hotmail Sent folder online. They are saved only locally in iPhone Mail.
By default, iPhone Mail will not delete messages from Windows Live Hotmail. You can set it to remove messages after you have deleted them on the phone, however, or after a week.
Access Free Windows Live Hotmail in iPhone Mail 1.0
To set up a Windows Live Hotmail account via IzyMail in iPhone Mail 1.0:
- Make sure your Windows Live Hotmail or MSN Hotmail account is registered with IzyMail.
- Tap Settings on the iPhone Home screen.
- Now tap Mail.
- Choose Add Account... under Accounts.
- Tap Other.
- Choose IMAP.
- Enter your name under Name.
- Type your full Windows Live Hotmail or MSN Hotmail address under Address.
- Enter "IzyMail Hotmail" under Description.
- Under Incoming Mail Server:
- Enter "in.izymail.com" under Host Name.
- Now type your full Windows Live Hotmail or MSN Hotmail address under User Name.
- Make sure you include the "@hotmail.com" part. If your Windows Live Hotmail log-in name is asdfgh, tap "asdfgh@hotmail.com".
- Enter your Windows Live Hotmail or MSN Hotmail password under Password.
- Under Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP):
- Enter "out.izymail.com" under Host Name.
- Type your full Windows Live Hotmail or MSN Hotmail email address under User Name.
- Again, make sure you do include "@hotmail.com".
- Enter your Windows Live Hotmail or MSN Hotmail password under Password.
- Tap Advanced.
- Select On the Server | _Sent under Sent Mailbox.
- Select On the Server | _Trash under Deleted Mailbox.
- Make sure Incoming Uses SSL is OFF.
- Make sure Outgoing Uses SSL is OFF.
- Now check Password is selected under Authentication.
- Go back to your iPhone's home, saving the new account.
How to Access Windows Live Hotmail with Mac OS X Mail
Web-based access to my Windows Live Hotmail account is great, but I also like the power and flexibility of Mac OS X Mail, my preferred desktop email client.
Fortunately, there's an elegant way to combine both worlds and access Windows Live Hotmail messages with Mac OS X Mail if you have a Windows Live Hotmail Plus subscription or a legacy account that you've ever accessed from desktop software.
If you lack a subscription, MacFreePOPs allows you to download mail from free Windows Live Hotmail accounts in Mac OS X Mail in a less comprehensive but still useful way.
Access Windows Live Hotmail with Mac OS X Mail Using httpmail
To set up access to a Windows Live Hotmail account in Mac OS X Mail using httpmail (which allows seamless access to all folders):
- Make sure you have an Windows Live Hotmail Plus subscription for the Windows Live Hotmail account you want to access in Mac OS X Mail.
- Install httpmail for Mac OS X Mail.
- Select Mail | Preferences... from the Mac OS X Mail menu.
- Go to the Accounts category.
- Click the + ("Create an account.") button.
- Enter your name under Full Name:.
- Type your Windows Live Hotmail address (something like "test@hotmail.com") under Email Address:.
- Type your Windows Live Hotmail password under Password:.
- Click Continue.
- Make sure HTTPMail is selected as the Account Type:.
- Enter "Windows Live Hotmail" (or something similar) as the Description: for this account.
- Verify Incoming Mail Server: is set to "hotmail.com".
- Check that your full Windows Live Hotmail address is entered under User Name:.
- Click Continue.
- Now click Create.
- Close the Accounts window.
Access Windows Live Hotmail Plus with Mac OS X Mail Using POP
To set up a Windows Live Hotmail Plus account in Mac OS X Mail using POP (which lets you fetch new incoming mail easily):
- Make sure you are subscribed to Windows Live Hotmail Plus.
- Select Mail | Preferences... from the Mac OS X Mail menu.
- Go to the Accounts category.
- Click the + ("Create an account.") button.
- Enter your name under Full Name:.
- Type your Windows Live Hotmail address (something like "test@hotmail.com") under Email Address:.
- Type your Windows Live Hotmail password under Password:.
- Click Continue.
- Make sure POP is selected under Account Type:.
- Enter "Windows Live Hotmail" (or something similar) as the Description: for this account.
- Type "pop3.live.com" (not including the quotation marks) under Incoming Mail Server:.
- Enter your complete Windows Live Hotmail address ("test@hotmail.com", for example) under User Name:.
- Click Continue.
- Make sure Use Secure Socket Layers (SSL) is checked.
- Verify Password is selected under Authentication.
- Click Continue.
- Enter "Windows Live Hotmail" under Description: for Outgoing Mail Server.
- Type "smtp.live.com" under Outgoing Mail Server:.
- Make sure Use Authentication is checked.
- Enter your full Windows Live Hotmail address (e.g. "test@hotmail.com") under User Name:.
- Type your Windows Live Hotmail password under Password:.
- Click Continue.
- Make sure Use Secure Socket Layers (SSL) is checked.
- Check Password is selected under Authentication.
- Click Continue.
- Now click Create.
- Close the Accounts window.
Access Windows Live Hotmail with Mac OS X Mail 1/2 Using httpmail
To add a Windows Live Hotmail Plus account to Mac OS X Mail 1 or Mac OS X Mail 2:
- Make sure you have an Windows Live Hotmail Plus subscription for the Windows Live Hotmail account you want to access in Mac OS X Mail.
- Install httpmail for Mac OS X Mail.
- Select Mail | Preferences... from the Mac OS X Mail menu.
- Go to the Accounts category.
- Click the + ("Create an account.") button.
- Make sure HTTPMail is selected as the Account Type:.
- Enter "Windows Live Hotmail" (or something similar) as the Description: for this account.
- Type your Windows Live Hotmail address (something like "test@hotmail.com") under Email Address:.
- Enter your name under Full Name:.
- Make sure the Incoming Mail Server: is set to "hotmail.com".
- Enter your Windows Live Hotmail user name ("test", for example) under User Name:.
- If your email address ends in "@msn", enter the full email address ("test@msn.com", for example).
- Type your Windows Live Hotmail password under Password:.
- Select None under Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP):.
- Close the Accounts window.
- Click Save.
Access Free Windows Live Hotmail in Mozilla Thunderbird
Using its POP interface or tools like FreePOPs (or MacFreePOPs on a Mac) and IzyMail, you can download messages from your Windows Live Hotmail account into Mozilla Thunderbird as if it was a regular email account.
Access Free Windows Live Hotmail in Mozilla Thunderbird Using POP (Easy, But Inbox Only)
To add Windows Live Hotmail to Mozilla Thunderbird:
- Select Tools | Account Settings... from the menu in Mozilla Thunderbird.
- Click Add Account....
- Make sure Email account is selected.
- Click Continue.
- Put your name in the Your Name: field.
- Type your Windows Live Hotmail address under Email Address:.
- Click Continue.
- Make sure POP is selected under Select the type of incoming server you are using..
- Enter "pop3.live.com" (excluding the quotation marks) under Incoming Server:.
- Click Continue.
- Enter your complete Windows Live Hotmail address (including "@hotmail.com", "@live.com", etc.) under Incoming User Name:.
- Type your complete Windows Live Hotmail address under Outgoing User Name: as well.
- Click Continue.
- Click Continue again.
- Click Done.
- Now go to the Server Settings category of the account named after your Windows Live Hotmail email address.
- Make sure SSL is selected under Use secure connection:.
- Verify "995" is entered under Port:.
- Go to Outgoing Server (SMTP) in the server list.
- Click Add....
- Type "Windows Live Hotmail" under Description:.
- Enter "smtp.live.com" under Server Name:.
- Verify "25" is entered under Port:.
- If you run into problems sending mail, try "587" instead.
- Make sure Use name and password is checked.
- Type your complete Windows Live Hotmail address (again including "@hotmail.com" etc.).
- Make sure TLS is selected under Use secure connection.
- Click OK.
- Go back to your Windows Live Hotmail account's root.
- Make sure "Windows Live Hotmail - smtp.live.com" is selected under Outgoing Server (SMTP).
- Click OK.
Access Free Windows Live Hotmail in Mozilla Thunderbird Using FreePOPs (Access to Arbitrary Folders)
To set up a free Windows Live Hotmail account in Mozilla Thunderbird with the help of FreePOPs or MacFreePOPs:
- Install FreePOPs or MacFreePOPs and make sure it is running.
- Select Tools | Account Settings... from the menu in Mozilla Thunderbird.
- Click Add Account....
- Make sure Email account is selected.
- Click Continue.
- Enter your name under Your Name:.
- Type your Windows Live Hotmail address under Email Address:.
- Click Continue.
- Make sure POP is selected under Select the type of incoming server you are using..
- Enter "localhost" (not including the quotation marks) under Incoming Server:.
- Decide whether you want your Windows Live Hotmail account to use a separate Inbox, Drafts and other folders or appear under Local Folders.
- Click Continue.
- Enter your complete Windows Live Hotmail address under Incoming User Name:.
- Click Continue.
- Now click Done.
- Go to the Server Settings category of the account named after your Windows Live Hotmail address.
- Enter "2000" (not including the quotation marks) under Port:.
- If Mozilla Thunderbird has not selected your default outgoing mail server for the Windows Live Hotmail account, or if you want to change it:
- Go to the root of the Windows Live Hotmail account.
- Select the desired account under Outgoing Server (SMTP):.
- To add a new outgoing mail server — you cannot send mail through FreePOPs, but you could use another free email account's, say Gmail's or AIM Mail's — go to the Outgoing Server (SMTP) category and click Add....
- Click OK.
By changing the user name, you can download mail from any Windows Live Hotmail folder (not just the Inbox).
Access Free Windows Live Hotmail in Mozilla Thunderbird Using IzyMail
To set up a Windows Live Hotmail as an IMAP account using IzyMail:
- Make sure your Windows Live Hotmail or MSN Hotmail account is registered with IzyMail.
- Select Tools | Account Settings... from the menu in Mozilla Thunderbird.
- Click Add Account....
- Make sure Email account is selected.
- Click Continue.
- Type your name under Your Name:.
- Enter your Windows Live Hotmail address under Email Address:.
- Click Continue.
- Make sure IMAP is selected under Select the type of incoming server you are using..
- Enter "in.izymail.com" (excluding the quotation marks) under Incoming Server:.
- Click Continue.
- Enter your complete Windows Live Hotmail address ("example@hotmail.com", for, well, example) under Incoming User Name:.
- Type the full Windows Live Hotmail address under Outgoing User Name: as well.
- Click Continue.
- Enter "Windows Live Hotmail (IzyMail)" under Account Name:.
- Now click Done.
- Go to Outgoing Server (SMTP) in the accounts list.
- Click Add... (next to the outgoing servers list; do not click Add Account... beneath the accounts list).
- Type "Windows Live Hotmail (IzyMail)" under Description:.
- Enter "out.izymail.com" (not including the quotation marks) under Server Name:.
- Make sure "25" is entered under Port:.
- Type your complete Windows Live Hotmail email address under User Name:.
- Make sure No is selected under Use secure connection:.
- Click OK.
- Go to the Windows Live Hotmail (IzyMail) account's root in the accounts list.
- Select Windows Live Hotmail (IzyMail) under Outgoing Server (SMTP):.
- Click OK.
Access Windows Live Hotmail with Outlook
Windows Live Hotmail (like MSN Hotmail) is great, and Outlook is great, too.
But Windows Live Hotmail working with Outlook, available for paying subscribers of Windows Live Hotmail, is really great. You can send and receive emails through your Windows Live Hotmail account from within Outlook, and you can archive messages locally.
Access Free Windows Live Hotmail in Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2007
To set up a free Windows Live Hotmail account in Outlook:
- Download and install Microsoft Office Outlook Connector.
- Select Outlook Connector | Add a New Account... from the menu in Outlook.
- Type your Windows Live Hotmail address under E-mail address:.
- Enter your Windows Live Hotmail password under Password:.
- Type your name under Name:.
- Click OK.
- Click OK again.
- Restart Outlook.
As an alternative to Outlook Connector, you can try one of the tools that allow you to access web-based email accounts via any POP or, sometimes, IMAP account such as Outlook. FreePOPs, for example, usually works well.
Access a Windows Live Hotmail Plus Account in Outlook
If you pay for Windows Live Hotmail Plus, you can — in addition to setting up Windows Live Hotmail using Outlook Connector as described above — download mail from your Windows Live Hotmail inbox to Outlook using POP.
To set up Windows Live Hotmail Plus as a POP account in Outlook:
- Make sure you are subscribed to Windows Live Hotmail Plus.
- Select Tools | Account Settings... from the menu in Outlook.
- Go to the E-mail tab.
- Click New....
- Make sure Microsoft Exchange, POP3, IMAP, or HTTP is selected.
- Click Next >.
- Type your name as you want it to appear in outgoing email under Your Name:.
- Enter your Windows Live Hotmail address under E-mail Address:.
- Make sure Manually configure server settings or additional server types is checked.
- Click Next >.
- Make sure Internet E-mail is selected.
- Click Next >.
- Make sure POP3 is selected under Account Type:.
- Enter "pop3.live.com" (not including the quotation marks) under Incoming mail server:.
- Type "smtp.live.com" under Outgoing mail server (SMTP):.
- Enter your complete Windows Live Hotmail address ("example@hotmail.com", for example) under User Name:.
- Type your Windows Live Hotmail password under Password:.
- Click More Settings....
- Go to the Outgoing Server tab.
- Make sure My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication is checked.
- Verify Use same settings as my incoming mail server is selected.
- Go to the Advanced tab.
- Make sure This server requires an encrypted connection (SSL) is checked under Incoming server (POP3):.
- Make sure SSL is selected for Use the following type of encrypted connection: under Outgoing server (SMTP):
- Check that "995" appears under Incoming server (POP3:) and "25" under Outgoing server (SMTP):.
- Click OK.
- Now click Next >.
- Click Finish.
- Click Close.
Access Windows Live Hotmail with Outlook 2000 and 2002
To configure Outlook to access your existing Windows Live Hotmail account (you can't set up a new account from within Outlook):
- Make sure you have an subscription for the Windows Live Hotmail account you want to access offline.
- Select Tools | E-mail Accounts... from the menu in Outlook.
- Make sure Add a new e-mail account is selected.
- Click Next.
- Choose HTTP as the Server Type.
- Click Next again.
- Enter your account details in the E-mail Accounts dialog box:
- Type your full name under Your Name:.
- Type your Windows Live Hotmail address under E-mail Address:.
- If Outlook has not entered it for you automatically, type your Hotmail email address User Name:.
- Type your Windows Live Hotmail password under Password:.
- Select Hotmail in the HTTP Mail Service Provider box.
- Click Next.
- Click Finish.
Access a Windows Live Hotmail Account with Outlook Express
Being able to access my Windows Live Hotmail account from just about any computer around the world via solely a web browser is nice. But the comfort and speed of Outlook Express are nice, too.
Why not combine the two and access my Windows Live Hotmail account with Outlook Express while I'm at my computer?
Access a Free Windows Live Hotmail Account with Outlook Express
Accessing your Wiindows Live Hotmail account with Outlook Express, available for paying subscribers of Windows Live Hotmail, has a number of benefits. You can archive incoming messages in folders on your computer — only the size of your disk is the limit, you can write messages and replies using great stationery, the Windows address book can be used, and lots more...
If you are not subscribed to Windows Live Hotmail, you can try one of the tools that allow you to access web-based email accounts via any POP or, sometimes, IMAP account such as Outlook Express. FreePOPs, for example, uses an alternative interface that works with free Windows Live Hotmail accounts.
Access a Paid Windows Live Hotmail Account with Outlook Express
To access a Windows Live Hotmail account with Outlook Express:
- Make sure you have an subscription for the Windows Live Hotmail account you want to access offline or an account with legacy access.
If you have Internet Explorer 7 installed, see below. - Select Tools | Accounts... from the menu in Outlook Express.
- Click Add and select Mail....
- Enter your name.
- Click Next.
- Enter your Windows Live Hotmail address ("hmmzl34@hotmail.com", for example).
- Click Next again.
- Make sure HTTP is selected under My incoming mail server is a __ server.
- Now, select Hotmail under My HTTP mail service provider is __.
- Click Next.
- Enter your Windows Live Hotmail address ("hmmzl34@hotmail.com", for example) under Account name:
- Type your Windows Live Hotmail password under Password.
- Click Next.
- Click Finish.
- Click Close to close the Outlook Express accounts window.
- Now, select Yes to download the Windows Live Hotmail folders list in Outlook Express.
Fix Windows Live Hotmail Access with Internet Explorer 7 Installed
If you have Internet Explorer 7 installed, make sure you also apply the following fix for HTTP authentication used by Outlook Express for accessing Windows Live Hotmail:
Access a Windows Live Hotmail Plus Account with Outlook Express Using POP
To set up a Windows Live Hotmail Plus account in Outlook Express:
- Make sure you are subscribed to Windows Live Hotmail Plus.
- Select Tools | Accounts... from the menu in Outlook Express.
- Click Add | Mail....
- Type your name.
- Click Next >.
- Enter your Windows Live Hotmail address.
- Click Next >.
- Make sure POP3 is selected under My incoming mail server is a __ server..
- Type "pop3.live.com" under Incoming mail (POP3, IMAP or HTTP) server:.
- Enter "smtp.live.com" under Outgoing mail (SMTP) server:.
- Click Next >.
- Type your complete Windows Live Hotmail address (e.g. "example@hotmail.com") under Account name:.
- Enter your Windows Live Hotmail password under Password:.
- Click Next >.
- Click Finish.
- Highlight the newly created pop3.live.com account.
- Click Properties.
- Go to the Servers tab.
- Make sure My server requires authentication is checked under Outgoing Mail Server.
- Go to the Advanced tab.
- Make sure This server requires a secure connection (SSL) is checked under both Outgoing mail (SMTP): and Incoming mail (POP3):.
- Make sure "25" is entered under Outgoing server (SMTP):.
- Make sure "995" appears under Incoming server (POP3):.
- Click OK.
- Click Close.