What Happened to Hotmail? Microsoft’s Once-Popular Email Platform Still Exists—But in a New Form
Hotmail was once among the most widely used email platforms, but today, it has been fully integrated into Microsoft Outlook.
- Hotmail’s Evolution: While Hotmail as a standalone service no longer exists, users can still create and use Hotmail.com email addresses through Outlook.
- Microsoft’s Email Shift: The transition was part of Microsoft’s effort to consolidate its email services under one unified platform.
The Early Days of Hotmail
When Was Hotmail Launched?
Hotmail debuted in 1996 and was acquired by Microsoft in 1997, following the massive success of Windows.
- MSN Hotmail Branding: Microsoft rebranded it as MSN Hotmail, though most users continued calling it simply Hotmail.
Hotmail’s Popularity and Challenges
Despite being a leading email service in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Hotmail faced several security issues.
- Password Vulnerability (1999): A flaw allowed anyone to access an account using “eh” as the password, forcing a swift security fix.
- Hacking Incident (2001): Hackers discovered an exploit that let them extract emails using custom URLs with a user’s email address.
Despite these issues, Hotmail remained a dominant email service well into the 2010s before being merged into Outlook.
What Happened to Hotmail?
Microsoft’s Transition to Outlook
In 2013, Microsoft officially shut down Hotmail and merged it into Outlook, but existing Hotmail accounts remained active.
- Logging In Today: Users with Hotmail, Live, or MSN email addresses can still access their accounts through Outlook.
Outlook’s Role in Microsoft’s Ecosystem
Outlook, now part of Microsoft 365, remains a core email, calendar, and productivity platform for businesses and individuals.
- No Future Changes Expected: Unlike other discontinued Microsoft products, Outlook is a key part of Microsoft’s software suite and isn’t going anywhere soon.
Can You Still Get a Hotmail Address?
Signing Up for Hotmail in 2024
Yes, you can still create a Hotmail.com email address, but you must do so via Outlook’s sign-up process.
- Domain Options: When creating a new account, users can choose from Hotmail.com, Outlook.com, or other Microsoft-owned domains.
How to Access an Old Hotmail Account
Recovering a Hotmail Email
If you need to recover an old Hotmail account, visit Microsoft’s account recovery page and follow the steps.
- Verification Process: You’ll need to provide an alternative email where Microsoft can send recovery details.
- Account Deletion Policy: If your Hotmail account was inactive for over two years, it may have been permanently deleted.
