Before the craze for Gmail emerged, Hotmail was the OG of the webmail services. It connected people the same way Gmail does now. Now that Gmail has taken over almost all webmail services out there, people have almost forgotten about Hotmail. But still, some people look forward to getting their hands to find old Hotmail accounts for work or any other reason. If you are too looking for tips about old Hotmail sign in, we bring you this helpful guide that will teach you how to access old Hotmail account systematically.
How to Access Old Hotmail Account
Before getting into the method to access your old Hotmail account, let us first learn what happens to your old Hotmail account if not been used for a long time.
What Happens to Old Hotmail Accounts?
Without a doubt, old Hotmail accounts go back many years. If you have a Hotmail account that is 10 years old, it is certainly possible that your account is already deleted. If an account is inactive for 5 years continuously, it gets automatically deleted. According to Microsoft terms and conditions, if you have not logged in or used your Hotmail account for 5 years, then there is a chance that your account is already deleted. It can also lead to an unrecoverable old Hotmail account.
Do Old Hotmail Accounts Get Deleted?
Yes, there are chances of your old Hotmail account getting deleted forever. This usually occurs when you have not accessed your Hotmail account for about 5 years. If you have not logged in to your account once within 5 years, you might never recover your Hotmail account.
How Long Do Hotmail Accounts Stay Active?
Usually, a Hotmail account stays active for about 5 years. Microsoft allows you to get your account back if it has been less than 5 years since you have logged in. If this period surpasses, your account can get deleted and cannot be recovered after that.
How Do I Know If My Hotmail Account is Still Active?
Outlook is now the new Hotmail. If you want to access an old Hotmail account, then signing in to Outlook is the only way to know.
- Visit Outlook Mail login page on your desktop.
- Sign in to your account with your old Hotmail sign-in credentials.
If your account is still active on Outlook, you will be able to easily access your old Hotmail account.
How Can I Find My Old Hotmail Account?
If you have two-step authentication in your old Hotmail account, you can easily access it by logging in to Outlook. If not, then the best way to do it is by recovering your old Hotmail account. Follow the below steps to do that:
Note: You can’t recover your account by this method if you have turned on two-step verification.
- Visit the Recover Your Account page on your device.
- Enter your Hotmail address, phone, or name and Contact email address on the form.
Then, perform Captcha Verification and click on the Next option.
- Enter the verification code sent to your contact email address and click on Verify.
- Answer the requested questions, as shown below, and click on Next.
Complete the other forms by entering the requested details and clicking Next on the final page.
If the details provided are sufficient, you will be able to recover your Hotmail account.
How Can I Access My Old Hotmail Account?
If you are trying to access your old Hotmail account within 5 years of deactivation, you can do it by signing in to your Hotmail account via Outlook.
- Visit Outlook Mail login page on your desktop browser.
- Sign in to your account with your old Hotmail sign in credentials.
How Can I Recover My Hotmail from Years Ago?
To access an old Hotmail account that has not been active in less than 5 years, you can opt for the Outlook platform that allows you to find old Hotmail accounts. If you fail to do it with Outlook, you can do the old Hotmail sign in with Microsoft Recover your account form.
Where To Go If You Forget Your Hotmail Password?
If you have forgotten your Hotmail password, you can reset it to generate a new one via Microsoft/Outlook Recover Account page.
How to Access Old Hotmail Account without Password?
You can access your old Hotmail account if you don’t have hold of your password. You can reset the old Hotmail account password to access that account as follows:
- Visit the Recover Your Account page on your device.
- Sign in to your account with your old Hotmail sign in credentials.
- Now, click on Forgot password?
- Select the option Email. Enter the contact email address and click on Get code.
Note: You might also get an option to text the code to your mobile if you have linked your phone number to the account.
- Enter code that you have received and click on the Next option.
- Enter the New password. Also, Reenter password and click on Next.
What Happens to Old Unused Email Accounts?
Old unused email accounts are usually active for 2 years. Once this period of 24 months is completed, your unused email account will lose all the data stored, including files, pictures, and other essential documents. This does not lead to the suspension of your account.
Do Old Microsoft Accounts Get Deleted?
Yes, Microsoft usually deletes old accounts like Hotmail after being inactive for about 5 years. If you have not logged in even once in 5 years, your account will be deleted.
