Hotmail Sign Up: Create a Free Email Account

Can I choose an @hotmail.com address?

During registration, check the domain selector beside your username. If @hotmail.com appears, select it before continuing. If it does not appear, choose an available ending, such as @outlook.com, if that suits you. The complete address Microsoft confirms is the one you will use.

Microsoft's Spanish alias guidance directs people who want a Hotmail address to create a new account. Adding an alias to an existing account is different: an alias shares the inbox and contacts, while a new account has its own inbox.

Reference: Microsoft: new addresses and aliases (Spanish).

Already have Hotmail and just want to open it? Follow our Hotmail login guide. Registering another account does not restore messages from your previous inbox.

A Microsoft account does not always mean a new email address

You can also register with Microsoft using an address you already have, such as Gmail. That process uses your existing email to identify you. To get a new Microsoft email address, start with the account creation option in Outlook.com.

Reference: Microsoft: using an existing email address versus signing up through Outlook.

How to sign up for Hotmail or Outlook

The order of the screens can vary. Follow the prompts shown on your device.

Open Outlook.com. Choose “Create free account.” If another inbox opens, sign out to begin a new registration.
Choose your address. Enter a username and check the domain. Try a memorable variation if the address is unavailable.
Complete the requested details. Check your name, country or region, and date of birth when the form requests them.
Set up access and complete verification. Follow Microsoft's prompts for codes, passkeys, or other checks. Complete any challenge that asks you to confirm you are a person.
Check your new inbox. Open Outlook.com after finishing and confirm your profile's email address before sharing it.

References: Microsoft: create a free account and passwordless registration options.

Why am I not being asked to create a password?

Microsoft announced that new accounts are passwordless by default. Current registration screens may differ from older tutorials. Continue with the method Microsoft offers, and remember which sign-in option you have set up.

A passkey lets you verify yourself using a compatible device, for example with its PIN, fingerprint reader, or facial recognition. It is not an email password you have to invent. If your registration flow does ask you to create a password, use one that is unique to this account.

Reference: Microsoft: new accounts and passkeys.

How to create your email account on a phone

Open the official website in your Android or iPhone browser and follow the steps above. Before leaving, save the full address and make sure you know which sign-in method you selected.

After registering, see how to add your existing account to Outlook on your phone. You do not need to choose “create account” again once registration is complete.

For a practical check, send a message to someone you trust and ask them to reply. This helps you confirm the address you shared and find the response in your inbox.

What to do if you cannot sign up

The address is unavailable

Choose another username. Microsoft says you cannot register an address previously used for a Microsoft account, even if that account was closed a long time ago.

Official registration help

The verification code does not arrive

Check the email address or number shown, look in your junk folder, and avoid repeatedly requesting codes. Use another method if Microsoft offers it.

Verification code help

Registration is blocked or asks for another method

Repeated requests can trigger blocks. Follow any waiting period Microsoft displays; there is no single deadline that guarantees every case will be resolved. Read the linked guidance and avoid making repeated attempts while waiting.

Reference: Microsoft: verification limits and blocks.

If you selected Gmail as your verification email, open that inbox to find the message. Our Gmail login guide explains how to access it.

Microsoft asks for an adult's permission

For a child's account, follow the parent or guardian consent process. Requirements depend on age and region. Do not change the date of birth to avoid this check.

Reference: Microsoft: parental consent.

Before you start using your new address

Review your security options. Visit Microsoft account security and add another way to verify yourself when available.
Keep those methods accessible. Update them when you change email addresses or devices.
Protect verification codes. Enter them only in the official process you initiated. Microsoft will not ask for your password by email.
Sign out on shared computers. Use private browsing, sign out when finished, and then close the browser windows.

Reference: Microsoft: keep your account secure.

What is included with free email?

Outlook.com provides 15 GB of email storage. A Microsoft account also includes 5 GB of cloud storage, shared with OneDrive and Outlook.com attachments, among other content.

These are separate limits, not 20 GB available for messages. Reaching your cloud storage limit can also stop you from sending or receiving email, even when your mailbox still has space.

Reference: Microsoft: Outlook.com storage limits.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to pay for Microsoft 365 to create email?

A subscription is not required for free registration. If you are offered a trial or paid plan, read its terms before accepting. Microsoft's free account options.

Can I create Hotmail without a phone number?

Verification options can vary. Use the alternatives shown in your registration flow. This guide cannot guarantee registration without a phone or bypass a check Microsoft requires.

Can I turn my existing Outlook address into Hotmail with an alias?

Microsoft's Spanish documentation says you cannot create a new @hotmail.com alias. It directs people who want a Hotmail address to create another account; check the domain options available during that registration. Alias rules (Spanish).

Where do I sign in after registering?

Go to Outlook.com and use the address and sign-in method you configured. Save the full address so you can distinguish it from other accounts.

Can Identifica create or verify my account for me?

No. This page explains the process and links to Microsoft. Registration and verification take place directly with the provider.

Sources and review

We checked the linked public documentation on September 9, 2026. Screens, verification methods, and available domains may change. Review the official form's options before confirming your address.

Hotmail, Outlook, and Microsoft are Microsoft trademarks. Identifica publishes this independent guide and does not represent the provider.

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