This wikiHow teaches you how to reset a forgotten password for a Microsoft Outlook account. Microsoft Outlook is now the official email provider for email addresses ending in "@hotmail.com". So you'll need to use Outlook to reset your Hotmail, Live, and/or Outlook passwords.
Step
Method 1 of 2: On Mobile
Step 1. Launch Outlook
Tap the Outlook icon, which is a white square with a blue "O" in it.
Step 2. Tap Get Started
If you've previously opened Outlook, skip this step.
An Outlook password reset is only required if you have never signed in to Outlook on a tablet or smartphone, or the account has recently been password changed
Step 3. Enter the email address
Do this in the text field in the middle of the page.
Step 4. Tap Add account which is below the email address field
A page for entering the password will open.
Skip this step if you log back into Outlook after resetting your password or reinstalling Outlook
Step 5. Tap the Forgot my password link located at the bottom of the screen
Step 6. Check the box "I forgot my password"
This option is at the top of the page.
Step 7. Tap Next at the bottom of the screen
Step 8. Enter the verification code
Tap the "Enter the characters you see" text box, then type the characters in the code box above the text box.
- To reset the code here, tap New which is next to the code box.
- The numbers and letters in the code box are case-sensitive (distinguishing the use of uppercase and lowercase letters).
Step 9. Tap Next
Step 10. Tap one of the options to recover the account
Tap E-mail or Text on this page.
- If you have never registered a backup mobile number, the only available options are E-mail.
- If you never registered a backup phone number or email account, tap I don't have any of these, tap Next, enter the backup email, then follow the instructions on the screen. This can be used to get your account back.
Step 11. Type in a phone number or email address
Tap the text field below the selected recovery option, then type in your full email address (if you chose the option E-mail), or the last 4 digits of the phone number (if you select the option Text) to verify identity.
Step 12. Tap on Send code located at the bottom right corner
A recovery code will be sent to your phone number or email address.
Step 13. Get the recovery code
How to do it:
- E-mail - Open the recovery email address, select the email sent by "Microsoft account team", then note the code next to the "Security code" heading.
- Text - Launch the Messages app on your phone, tap a text message sent by Microsoft (usually from a six-digit phone number), then take note of the code in the text message.
Step 14. Enter the recovery code
Tap the " Enter code " text field, type in the code you got from your phone or email address, then tap Next. If the code entered is correct, the password reset page will be opened.
Step 15. Type in the new password
Enter the new password into the " New password " and " Reenter password " fields, then tap Next.
Step 16. Tap Next when prompted
The sign in page will be displayed again which can be used to log into your account with the new password.
Method 2 of 2: On Desktop Computer
Step 1. Visit the page to reset password
Launch a web browser and visit
Step 2. Check the "I forgot my password" box
This option is at the top of the page.
Step 3. Click Next at the bottom of the page
Step 4. Type in the email address
Enter the Hotmail, Live, or Outlook email address for which you want to reset the password.
You can also enter your Skype username or phone number if both are associated with the account
Step 5. Type in the verification code
Enter the code in the box below the email address text field into the " Enter the characters you see " field at the bottom of the page.
- To reset the code here, click New which is next to the code box.
- The numbers and letters in the code box are case-sensitive.
Step 6. Click Next
Step 7. Select the option to reset the account
Click E-mail or Text on this page.
- If you have never registered a backup mobile number, the only available options are E-mail.
- If you never registered a backup phone number or email account, check I don't have any of these, click Next, enter the backup email, then follow the instructions on the screen. This can be used to get your account back.
Step 8. Type in a phone number or email address
Enter the full email address under the options E-mail, or type the last 4 digits of the phone number under options Text.
Step 9. Click Send code
It's a blue button at the bottom of the page. A recovery code will be sent to your phone number or email address.
Step 10. Get the recovery code
How to do it:
- E-mail - Open the recovery email address, select the email sent by "Microsoft account team", then note the code next to the "Security code" heading.
- Text - Run the Messages app on your phone, click on a text message sent by Microsoft (usually from a six-digit phone number), then write down the code in the text message.
Step 11. Enter the recovery code
Type the code into the text field in the middle of the page, then click Next. If the code entered is correct, the password reset page will be opened.
Step 12. Type in the new password
Enter the new password into the " New password " and " Reenter password " fields, then click Next.
Step 13. Click Next when prompted
A login page will be displayed again where you can login to your account with the new password.
