Set up an email account with Hotmail

*This guide was last updated 18 April 2011. Please note that the real system and process may differ from this guide.

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1. Get started

Hotmail is an email service provided by Microsoft under the Windows Live brand. To get started use your keyboard to type www.hotmail.com into the address bar and press the enter key.

Now you’ll see the ‘Windows Live’ page. To register for a Hotmail email account click on ‘Sign up’ near the bottom of the page.

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2. Create an email account

The ‘Create your Hotmail account’ page opens. This will be the account you use to access hotmail email later.

There are several boxes to fill in on this screen but just take your time and do them one at a time.

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To enter text, first point your cursor at the box you want to complete. The cursor looks like this:

Click your left mouse button once and then use the keyboard to type in your details. If you make a mistake press the backspace key. It looks like this:

3. Hotmail address

The first box asks you to type in the Hotmail address that you would like.

This will be the name you use to access the account when you come back to Hotmail, so you will want to choose something you can remember. It is also going to be your email address, which will be seen by anyone you send messages to so think carefully about what you want this to be.

Most people start by trying their own name, so type this into the box, without spaces, and click the box that says ‘check availability’ to see if you can use it, or if someone else with the same name has got there first!

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In this example Jackie Stewart has not been lucky. His name has already gone. But Microsoft has suggested some options based on the name he asked for. You can select one of these or try a different option.

Think about using full stops or numbers to make a Hotmail address that means something to you and is recognisable to others.

In our example Jackie, a racing driver, has added his number of Formula 1 wins.

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4. Create a password

Now we come to the ‘Create a password’ section. Your password needs to be something you will remember but others can’t guess. You will need to use your password every time you log into your email account.

You can make your password harder for others to guess by using numbers, symbols or a mix of CAPITAL and small letters.

So while someone may know Jackie has a pet named Beatrice, if he makes his password be@Tr1ce that would be more difficult for someone to guess.

As you can see Microsoft rates this password as very strong.

Take a moment to think of a password and how you can make it more secure while still memorable, then type it into both boxes on your screen.

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5. Alternative email address

At this point Hotmail asks if you have an ‘Alternative email address’. If you do they can send help instructions to that address if you have problems.

Don’t worry if you don’t have another email address. Just ignore that box and click your left mouse button where it says ‘Or choose a security question for password reset’.

The screen now changes so you can choose the question you want them to ask if you are having trouble remembering your password in the future.

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Select a question from the drop down list. To do this point your cursor at the box that looks like this :and click your left mouse button once. Then move your mouse to select your preferred question and click again.

Use the keyboard to type the answer in the box below the question.

Make sure this is an answer you are sure of and check your spelling as it will need to match exactly if you need help from Hotmail.

6. First name and last name

Hotmail now asks for your first and last names. Use the keyboard to type these in the spaces provided.

7. Country/region

Because Hotmail operates all over the world they ask for your location so that they operate in accordance with local laws. Select the correct option from the drop down list. To do this point your cursor in the boxes that look like this :

and click your left mouse button once. Then move your mouse to highlight your country and click again.

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8. Postal code

Hotmail also ask for your postcode. Move your cursor over the correct box and click the left mouse button once. Then use the keyboard to type your post code in the box.

9. Gender

To select a gender just click once in the small circle to the left of your choice.

10. Birth year

Hotmail also ask for your birth year. Move your cursor over the correct box and click the left mouse button once. Then use the keyboard to type your birth year in the box.

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11. Word verification

Also in this section is a word verification. Hotmail use this to prove you are a human rather than a computer. A word verification is also sometimes called a CAPTCHA code.

Move your cursor over the box, click your left mouse button once and use your keyboard to type the letters that you see in the image in the box provided. If you can’t recognise the letters you can listen to them by clicking on ‘Audio’.

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12. Terms of service

Finally to get a Hotmail email account you must accept the Microsoft service agreement and privacy statement. It is a good idea to have a read of these so that you understand what you are agreeing to!

They are not shown on screen immediately. To see these you have to point your cursor at the blue words on screen and click your left mouse button once to see them.

There is also a tick box to allow you to choose if you want to receive promotional emails from Microsoft. Move your cursor over the tick box and click your left mouse button once to remove the tick if you don’t want to receive these messages.

You’re now all ready to go. Move your cursor to point at the “I accept” button and click your left mouse button once.

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13. Final steps

Congratulations, you’ve just got a Hotmail email account!

You will be taken to a new screen like the one below, which will show you if you have any new email messages.

You should have one new message to welcome you to Hotmail. Move your cursor over the word “Inbox” and click the left mouse button once to be taken to your messages.

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