If you can’t access your Hotmail account, don’t waste time on guessing or any other things; just follow Microsoft’s official recovery process. Don’t worry, if you:
  • Forgot password
  • Lost access to your recovery email or phone number
  • Account is hacked or locked
There are specific steps that help you in the Hotmail account recovery procedure. Since Hotmail is now part of Microsoft Outlook, the recovery process follows Microsoft’s official account recovery system.  In this guide, I explain how to recover Hotmail account, which method to use in each situation, and what to do if Microsoft rejects the recovery request. All your questions, with appropriate answers, will be discussed here. 

Why You Lose Access to the Hotmail Account?

Before starting with the Hotmail account recovery process, it is necessary to understand why you can’t access your account, so that you can effectively tackle this in future. Hotmail accounts usually become inaccessible due to one of these reasons:
  • Forgot Hotmail password
  • Someone hacked the account
  • Hotmail not working due to an update or an issue from Microsoft’s end
  • Lost access to the recovery email or phone number
  • Microsoft temporarily locked the account due to suspicious activity
  • Haven’t signed in for a long time
Identifying the reason helps you choose the right recovery method, as I’ll share solutions according to these. So, let me explain what to do next.

How to Recover Hotmail Account?

According to the causes we discussed above, the following are the solutions that help you to restore hotmail account hassle-free and quickly:

#Method 1. Password Reset Option

This is the fastest and most successful method if you still have access to your recovery details. Here’s how:
  1. Open the Microsoft account recovery page
  2. Enter your Hotmail email address
  3. Select “Forgot password”
  4. Verify your identity using:
    • A recovery email
    • A registered phone number
  5. Enter the security code Microsoft sends you
  6. Create a new strong password
Once completed, you can sign in immediately.

#Method 2. Hotmail Account Recovery Without Phone Number or Recovery Email

If you no longer have access to your recovery email or phone number, use Microsoft’s account recovery form. For the same:
  1. Go to the recovery form
  2. Enter your Hotmail email address
  3. Provide an alternate email address
  4. Fill in as many details as possible, such as:
    • Old passwords
    • Approximate account creation date
    • Names of created folders
    • Subjects of recent emails
    • Microsoft services used, i.e. OneDrive, Xbox, etc.
Microsoft reviews your submission and will respond within 24-48 hours.

Also Read: Recover Yahoo Account Without Phone Number: A Complete How-to Guide

#Method 3. How to Recover Hotmail Account if it is Hacked

If you found that your Hotmail account has been hacked, then act immediately:
  • Try to reset the password right away
  • If you can’t sign in, submit the account recovery form
  • Check the alternate email for security alerts from Microsoft
  • After recovery:
    • Change the password again
    • Review recent login activity
    • Remove unknown recovery emails or phone numbers
Following these steps will easily restore Hotmail account, even if it has been hacked. Still, it is suggested to download Hotmail emails to hard drive, so that you can access your data even if it is hacked or inaccessible.

#Method 4. Recover a Temporarily Locked Account

Sometimes Microsoft locks a Hotmail account to protect it from suspicious activity. So, to access that account again:
  1. Sign in and follow the on-screen instructions
  2. Verify your identity using a phone number
  3. Enter the one-time verification code
Once verified, the Hotmail account is unlocked instantly. Remember, provide the right details to them; otherwise, they don’t unlock your account at any cost. If Microsoft still rejects your request, then don’t worry, I’ll share what to do next. 

What to Do If Microsoft Rejects the Recovery Request?

If Microsoft says it can’t verify your identity, don’t panic. Just:
  • Wait 24 hours and submit the recovery form again
  • Provide more accurate and detailed information
  • Try to recall older passwords
  • Use a trusted device or location
Many users recover their Hotmail accounts on the second or third attempt, so don’t need to worry at all. If you have proper details and the Hotmail account is officially yours, then Microsoft don’t reject your request. 

How Long Does Hotmail Account Recovery Take?

Now, it’s time to learn, after submitting the recovery form, how much time it takes to be approved by Microsoft:
  • Password reset with recovery details: 5-10 minutes
  • Account recovery form review: 24-48 hours
  • Multiple recovery attempts: 2-5 days

How to Prevent Hotmail Account Recovery Issues in the Future

Once you successfully recover your account, take a few preventive steps:
  • Update the recovery phone number and email
  • Enable two-step verification
  • Archive Hotmail emails
  • Review sign-in activity regularly
  • Avoid using public computers for email access
These steps simply reduce the risk of losing access again. Still, if you want to add another layer of security, then move to the next section, in which I’ll explain a proper step-by-step disaster recovery plan. 

Always Take a Backup of Hotmail Data After Recovery

Recovering the Hotmail account is important and the first step, but protecting the data after recovery is our second and crucial step. In many cases, even if you manage to recover your account, you still lose access to some emails due to:
  • Hacking
  • Accidental deletion
  • Corruption
  • Permanent account restrictions by Microsoft
That’s why I strongly recommend taking a backup of Hotmail data as soon as the account becomes accessible again. If your Hotmail data is hacked or deleted, having a local backup allows you to access your emails anytime without depending on Microsoft login or recovery approvals. For the same reason, I personally use the SysTools Hotmail Backup Tool to create a secure copy of my emails. This tool helps me back up my Hotmail mailbox to my local system in multiple formats, i.e. EML, MSG, MBOX, PDF and PST.
You can try this for free and leverage these benefits:
  • Get offline access to my emails anytime
  • Data stays safe even if the account is hacked or blocked again
  • Restore or open emails without signing in to Hotmail
  • Avoid permanent data loss caused by account suspension or hacking
So, backing up my Hotmail emails ensures that even if recovery fails next time, your data doesn’t.
Author’s Verdict
Recovering a Hotmail account isn’t complicated, but it does require patience and an accurate recovery process. I’ve found that Microsoft’s recovery system works well when you provide correct and detailed answers. Following the correct steps, you will regain access without permanent data loss. I hope you have now learned how to recover hotmail account​ and answers to related queries.
People Also Ask
Is Hotmail Still Active?

Yes. Hotmail accounts still work, but they are now managed through Outlook.com.

Can I contact Microsoft support directly?

For account recovery, Microsoft does not offer direct email or phone support. You must use the official recovery solutions.

Can I recover Hotmail account after years of inactivity?

Yes, but only if Microsoft hasn’t permanently deleted it. You need to provide identity proof through the recovery form.