Is Hotmail Still Around in 2026? Here’s Everything You Need to Know

  

Rollins Duke   Contributor

Published On May 13th, 2026 • 6 Min Read

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If you have been wondering whether Hotmail is still around in 2026, the short answer is: yes, but only through Outlook.com. Microsoft officially retired the Hotmail brand in 2013, migrating every existing account to the new Outlook.com platform. Your old @Hotmail.com address still works, but the backend is now powered entirely by Outlook.com.

This guide covers the full history of what happened to Hotmail, whether you can still access your old account, the differences between the old service and Outlook.com, and how to back up your emails safely.

Also Read: Cannot Add Account to Mac Mail | Storage Full? Here’s How to Fix It | Migrate to Outlook.com

The History: What Happened to the Service?

The service was founded by Jack Smith and Sabeer Bhatia in 1996 and quickly became one of the world’s most popular free web-based email services. For over a decade, Hotmail dominated the market alongside Yahoo Mail. By the late 2000s, however, the service had fallen behind competitors. The interface felt outdated, spam protection was weak, and storage was limited compared to Gmail.

Microsoft responded by launching a completely redesigned platform called Outlook.com in 2012. The new service offered a modern interface, better spam filtering, and native integration with Office 365, OneDrive, and Teams. In 2013, Microsoft formally shut down the Hotmail brand and moved all existing accounts automatically to Outlook.com. The @Hotmail.com email addresses remained valid, but the platform behind them changed permanently.

Is Hotmail Still Around in 2026?

Yes, The service is still active in the sense that existing @Hotmail.com addresses continue to work. Microsoft never deleted any accounts. If you signed up before 2013, you can still log in today using the same email address and password. The only change is that you now use the Outlook.com interface rather than the old Hotmail design.

However, the brand no longer exists as an independent service. You cannot visit a separate Hotmail website, and you cannot create a new @Hotmail.com account. New Microsoft accounts are created with @Outlook.com, @Live.com, or @MSN.com domains.

How to Access Your Old Hotmail Account in 2026

Accessing your existing account is straightforward because the login process is the same as it always was. Microsoft simply redirects you to Outlook.com automatically.

1. Open your browser and navigate to outlook.com.
2. Click Sign in and enter your @Hotmail.com address.
3. Enter your password and click Sign in.
4. If you have forgotten your password, click Forgot my password and follow Microsoft’s recovery steps.
5. Once logged in, you will see your full inbox, contacts, and calendar inside the Outlook.com interface.

Note: Microsoft requires you to log in at least once every 365 days to keep your account active. Accounts that remain inactive beyond that period may be subject to Microsoft’s inactivity policy. Check the Microsoft support page for details on account reactivation if needed.

How to Back Up Your Emails Safely

Whether you are concerned about inactivity or simply want a local backup of your messages, protecting your email data is a smart precaution. Email Backup Wizard lets you export your emails (via Outlook.com) in multiple formats including PST, EML, MBOX, and PDF, with all attachments and folder structure preserved.

Backup Steps

1. Download and install Email Backup Wizard on your Windows or Mac computer.
2. Enter your @Hotmail.com address and password, then click Login.
3. Select the folders you want to back up from your email mailbox.
4. Apply optional filters by date range, sender, or subject if needed.
5. Choose your output format (PST, EML, MBOX, PDF, MSG, etc.).
6. Select a destination folder and click Backup to start the export.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still log into my old account in 2026?

Yes. You can sign into your existing account by going to Outlook.com and entering your @Hotmail.com address and password. Microsoft fully integrated the service into Outlook.com, so your login credentials remain unchanged and all your email data is accessible.

Will my @Hotmail.com email address be deleted?

Microsoft has not announced plans to delete existing accounts. Your @Hotmail.com address stays active as long as you log in at least once every 365 days. Logging in at least once a year prevents closure under Microsoft’s inactivity policy.

Can I create a new Hotmail account in 2026?

No, it is no longer possible to create a new @Hotmail.com address. Since 2013, Microsoft only allows new accounts with @Outlook.com, @Live.com, or @MSN.com domains. The functionality and interface of these new accounts are identical to what Hotmail offered, powered by the same Outlook.com platform.

What is Hotmail called now?

It is now called Outlook.com. Microsoft rebranded it in 2013 and migrated all accounts. Your @Hotmail.com address still works normally — the underlying platform simply changed to Outlook.com with no action required from users.

Does @Hotmail.com still receive emails?

Yes. Your address continues to receive emails from anyone who messages you. Those messages appear directly in your Outlook.com inbox. The address works exactly as it did before the rebrand, and senders do not need to update anything when emailing your address.

Does Hotmail work on mobile devices?

Yes. You can access your account on iOS and Android using the Microsoft Outlook app. Add your account in the app settings to get full access to emails, contacts, and calendar. The app supports Push notifications, multiple account management, and full attachment handling.

Are old Hotmail emails still accessible?

Yes. All your emails were preserved during the migration to Outlook.com. Nothing was deleted. The folder structure, contacts, and calendar all transferred automatically. Only the interface changed, not the data.

Conclusion

So, is Hotmail still around in 2026? Yes, but only for existing users through Outlook.com. The @Hotmail.com email address continues to work, but the brand was retired in 2013. New accounts, but existing accounts remain fully functional with modern Outlook.com features: two-factor authentication, Office 365 integration, and advanced spam filtering.

To protect your emails, consider using Email Backup Wizard to export them locally. For more related guides, see our posts on migrating your account to Outlook.com and fixing the Mac Mail issue.

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