Windows Live Hotmail SMTP Settings

Which SMTP setting to use to send mail with a Hotmail address

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by Heinz Tschabitscher
An independent writer who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
Updated December 15, 2018

Windows Live Hotmail email addresses can only send email through an email client if the correct SMTP server settings are used. SMTP servers are necessary for every email service so that the program through which emails are sent, knows how to send the messages.

The SMTP settings for your Hotmail account is only relevant for sending messages. To receive mail from your account through the email client, make sure you're using the right Windows Live Hotmail POP3 settings.

Windows Live Hotmail SMTP Server Settings

These are the outgoing SMTP server settings for sending mail using Windows Live Hotmail from any email program, mobile device, or another email service:

  • Hotmail SMTP Server: smtp.live.com
  • Hotmail SMTP Username: Your complete Windows Live Hotmail email address (e.g. me@hotmail.com or me@live.com)
  • Hotmail SMTP Password: Your Windows Live Hotmail password
  • Hotmail SMTP Port: 587
  • Hotmail SMTP TLS/SSL Required: yes

You can also use the Outlook.com SMTP server settings for your Hotmail account since, as you can read below, the two services are now the same.

Windows Live Hotmail Is Now Outlook

Windows Live Hotmail was Microsoft's free web-based email service, designed to be accessed via the web, from any machine on the internet. It was first used by a few thousand beta testers in 2005 and then millions more by the end of 2006

However, the Windows Live brand was discontinued in 2012 when Microsoft introduced Outlook Mail, essentially rebranding Windows Live Hotmail with an updated user interface and improved features. Email addresses could remain as @hotmail.com but there is no longer a page dedicated to just Hotmail addresses.

Therefore, Outlook Mail is now the official name of Microsoft's email service, formerly known as Hotmail and Windows Live Hotmail.