Hotmail today refers to an email address in the format @hotmail.com or @hotmail.fr, hosted on Microsoft’s Outlook.com platform. The original email service has been absorbed by Outlook, but Hotmail addresses remain fully functional and can still be created for free via the Microsoft sign-up form.
Hotmail and Outlook: what the name change technically implies
The name Hotmail has disappeared from Microsoft’s public interface in favor of Outlook.com. This transition only concerns the brand and design of the webmail. The email infrastructure, receiving and sending servers, and storage on OneDrive remain the same regardless of the suffix chosen at registration.
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An account created with an @hotmail.fr address generates the same Microsoft account as an @outlook.fr address. This unique account serves as a login identifier for Windows, Xbox, Microsoft 365, and OneDrive. Therefore, choosing Hotmail or Outlook at the time of registration has no impact on the accessible features.
The only difference lies in the availability of names: @outlook.com addresses being more recent, more first-name-last-name combinations are still available there. If a detailed guide would be helpful, knowing how to create a Hotmail address goes through exactly the same form as for Outlook.
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Create a free Hotmail address: the registration process on Outlook.com
Registration is done from a web browser on any connected device. Here are the concrete steps of the current Microsoft form.
- Open the outlook.com page and click on the “Create a free account” button. A field appears to enter the desired address, with a dropdown menu allowing you to select the suffix (@hotmail.com, @hotmail.fr, @outlook.com, or @outlook.fr).
- Choose a password. Microsoft requires a minimum of eight characters, mixing uppercase, lowercase, and numbers. The passwordless sign-in option (passkeys, Windows Hello) can be activated right after, and Microsoft explicitly encourages new users to do so.
- Provide your first name, last name, and date of birth. For an account intended for a child, a parent or guardian must also log in to finalize the setup.
- Validate your identity via a code sent by SMS or to a backup email address. This step also serves to activate account recovery in case of loss of access.
Once the form is completed, the inbox is immediately operational. The entire process takes less than five minutes.
Secure a new Hotmail account right after creation
The first reflex after creating the account is to enable two-step verification. This option, accessible from the security settings of the Microsoft account, adds a layer of authentication for each login from a new device.
Microsoft has emphasized passwordless sign-in methods for several years. The Microsoft Authenticator app, passkeys, or Windows Hello allow you to log in without entering a password, reducing the risk of phishing.
Another often overlooked point: adding important contacts to the address book improves the deliverability of received messages. Emails from registered contacts are less likely to be redirected to the spam folder. This action can be done from the “Contacts” icon in the Outlook.com sidebar.
Recovery information to provide
Microsoft requests a phone number or an alternative email address. These details are used solely to reset the password or unlock the account after suspicious activity. Without this information, recovering a locked account becomes very difficult.
Using a Hotmail address on mobile and computer
The same Microsoft identifier works across all platforms. On a computer, access is via outlook.com in a browser or through the Outlook app for Windows and macOS. On smartphones, the Outlook app (iOS and Android) automatically synchronizes emails, calendar, and contacts.
A Hotmail account can also be added to a third-party email client (Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Edison Mail) using the IMAP and SMTP protocols. The server settings are identical for @hotmail.com and @outlook.com, as the technical infrastructure is the same.
Switching to professional use
Microsoft offers a registration process for small businesses that automatically creates an administration space (Entra ID, formerly Azure AD) without technical intervention. A user starting from a personal Hotmail address can thus obtain team accounts and a custom domain without changing their email environment.
Creating a Hotmail address remains free and accessible in just a few minutes. The choice of the @hotmail suffix over @outlook is purely cosmetic: both provide access to all Microsoft services. The only precaution not to delay is account security, particularly two-step verification and providing a recovery method, two settings that take less than a minute and prevent future lockouts.