Things You'll Need:
- Internet access
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Step 1
Go to the Hotmail website. The link to the Hotmail website is in the Resources section. The Hotmail website says Windows Live Hotmail.
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Step 2
Click on the "Sign up" button. This brings you to a screen offering you two choices. You can choose either to open just a Hotmail account or a Hotmail account as part of the Windows Live services.
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Step 3
Click "Get it." Look for the option that is just for opening up a Hotmail account. Click the "Get it" button underneath that option. This brings you to a screen with several fields that you need to fill out.
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Step 4
Create a Windows Live ID. The first step is to select your Windows Live ID, which will also be your Hotmail email address. Under Create a Windows Live ID, type in a unique email address. A combination of letters with numbers or symbols is more likely to be unique.
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Step 5
Select "hotmail.com" from the dropdown menu. Next to where you typed in your proposed email address is a dropdown menu. The default is "live.com". Click on the arrow and select "hotmail.com."
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Step 6
Check availability of the Hotmail email account you selected. Click the "Check availability" button. If a message appears stating that this email address has already been taken, then try other email addresses until Hotmail approves what you requested.
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Step 7
Choose a password. Under "Choose your password", type in a password that is between 7 and 16 characters. A combination of letters and numbers is a more secure password. Retype the password in the field below to make sure that you have no typos in the password you entered. The password strength bar will let you know how secure the password that you have chosen is.
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Step 8
Type in password reset information. If you need to have your password reset, Hotmail needs a way to contact you. Under "Enter password reset information," type in another email address where Hotmail can send you information about resetting your password.
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Step 9
Select a security question and enter an answer. Click on the dropdown menu to select a security question. Then, type in an answer that you will remember.
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Step 10
Fill in your personal information under "Your information." Whatever name you fill in here will display on any email that you send from your Hotmail email account.
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Step 11
Key in the characters in the picture. This is a security feature to make sure that a human being (versus a computer program) is requesting the email account. Type in what you see in the picture.
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Step 12
Click "I accept." Click on the Windows Live Service Agreement and the Privacy Statement to read them over, if desired. Then, click "I accept" to open your Hotmail account.
