Windows Live Hotmail Top Issues and Support Information

This articles describes the most frequent issues with Windows Live Hotmail, and tells you how to resolve them. There is information about Windows Live Hotmail support options at the end of this article.

How to Reset a Forgotten Password

To reset your Windows Live Hotmail password, follow these steps:

1. Start Microsoft Internet Explorer, and then see the following Hotmail Web site:
   http://www.hotmail.com (http://www.hotmail.com)
2. Click Forgot your password?.
3. Type the e-mail address of the Windows Live ID account for which you want to reset the password.
4. Type the characters that you see in the box in the picture. Or, click the speaker icon, and then type the numbers that you hear.
5. Click Continue.
6. Click Use my question to verify my identity.
7. Enter the appropriate account information, answer your question, and then click Continue.
8. Type your new password two times, and then click Continue.

How to Eliminate Unwanted Junk E-Mail (Spam)

To eliminate unwanted e-mail messages, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Junk Mail Filter

1. Sign in to the Windows Live Hotmail Web site by using your Windows Live ID.
2. In the upper-right corner of the page, click Options, and then click More options.
3. Under Junk e-mail, click Filters and reporting.
4. Under Filters and reporting, select the options that you want, and then click Save.

Method 2: Block Sender

1. Sign in to the Windows Live Hotmail Web site by using your Windows Live ID.
2. In the upper-right corner of the page, click Options, and then click More options.
3. Under Junk e-mail, click Safe and blocked senders.
4. Click Blocked senders.
5. Type an e-mail address or a domain, and then click Add to List.

"Page Cannot Be Displayed" Error Message When You Attempt to Log On to Hotmail

When you try to log on to Hotmail, you may receive an error message similar to the following: This issue can occur when there is a problem connecting to the Hotmail server. When you receive this error message, it is best to wait a few minutes, and then attempt to log on to Hotmail again.

If you still cannot log on to Hotmail after several minutes, clear your History folder and Temporary Internet folders. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Start Internet Explorer.
2. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
3. On the General tab, click Clear History. When you receive the confirmation message, click Yes.
4. In the Temporary Internet Files pane, click Delete Files. When you receive the confirmation message, click Yes.

How to Identify and Report Unwanted E-mail Messages (Spam)

To identify a sender of unwanted e-mail messages and report that sender to MSN Hotmail, use the appropriate method.

Method 1: Report Unwanted E-mail Messages from a Hotmail Account

1. Sign in to the Windows Live Hotmail Web site by using your Windows Live ID.
2. On the left side of the screen, click Mail.
3. In the folder list, click Inbox.
4. Right-click the message in the message list, and then click View source.
5. Select the contents of the message.
6. Right-click the selected text, and then click Copy.
7. Compose a new e-mail message, and then address the message to report_spam@hotmail.com.
8. Click in the body of the new message, and then press CTRL+V. Then, click Send.

Method 2: Report Unwanted E-mail Messages from Outside a Hotmail Account

1. Sign in to the Windows Live Hotmail Web site by using your Windows Live ID.
2. On the left side of the screen, click Mail.
3. In the folder list, click Inbox.
4. Right-click the message in the message list, and then click View source.
5. Select the contents of the message.
6. Right-click the selected text, and then click Copy.
7. Compose a new e-mail message, and then address the message to the abuse address of the domain from which the user sent the e-mail message, as follows:
   abuse@domainname.com
   For example, send the e-mail message to abuse@mymailmessages.com.
8. Click in the body of the new message, and then press CTRL+V. Click Send.

How to Close a Hotmail Account

1. Sign in to your Windows Live Hotmail account.
2. Click Help.
3. In the Search box, type cancel account, and then press ENTER.
4. Click How do I close my account or why was my account closed?.
5. Click Close a free Windows Live Hotmail account, and then click the Windows Live Hotmail close account link.
   Note If you are returned to your inbox when you click this link, you may have an MSN Mobile subscription that is associated with this account. To close your MSN Mobile account, visit http://mobile.msn.com (http://mobile.msn.com) , sign in, and then click Delete my account. After you have completed this step, begin at step 1 earlier in this section.
6. Click Close My Account.

To sign up for Windows Live Hotmail, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Windows Live Hotmail Web site (http://www.hotmail.com (http://www.hotmail.com) or http://mail.live.com (http://mail.live.com) ).
2. Click Sign up, and then follow the instructions that appear on the screen.

The answers to these questions are never broadcast or sold, in compliance with the Hotmail Terms of Use.

Windows Live Hotmail uses a Passport entry to the service. Your Passport is synonymous with a password. You can use the same Passport for a number of MSN services.

Support for Hotmail

Support for Hotmail is available 24 hours a day at the following Hotmail Web site: If you click this link, the Hotmail homepage opens. On the Hotmail homepage, you can sign up for an account. If you have a logon name and password, you can sign in to your account.

Support in Your Hotmail Account

To receive support while you are running your Hotmail account:

• Click the Help button on any of the Hotmail pages.
  
  This opens Help specific to that area of Hotmail.
  
  -or-
• In Help, type a question.
  
  The support is provided in the form of frequently asked questions (FAQs).
  
  -or-
• Help is also available on the Hotmail logon page if you have problems with the logon process or your password.

If you cannot find the answer to your problem through Help, submit a support request. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Visit https://support.live.com/ (https://support.live.com/) .
2. Select Windows Live Hotmail under Standard Services.
3. Non-English users will be redirected to Windows Live Hotmail Help Pane.
   Note English users will be redirected to http://windowslivehelp.com/Default.aspx (http://windowslivehelp.com/Default.aspx)
4. Enter any keyword in the Search for box, and then submit the search.
5. Select one of the help topics that is displayed under the search box.
6. Click Get more help in the lower-right corner of the window.
7. Click Get support.
8. Complete the e-form, and then click submit.

Microsoft makes every effort to answer e-mail support requests within 24 business hours. Virtually all solutions to Hotmail support needs can be found in Help.