Live.com email is a free email service run by Microsoft

Live.com is an email address that ends in @live.com. Microsoft owns and runs it. You can create one for free, use it to send and receive messages, and access it from any web browser or phone. It works the same way as Gmail or Yahoo Mail — you log in, read your messages, and send new ones.

Live.com is one of several email services Microsoft offers. If you have heard of Hotmail or Outlook.com, those are related: Hotmail was an older email service that Microsoft bought, and Outlook.com is the newer version. Microsoft now groups all three under one system, so a Live.com address, a Hotmail address, and an Outlook.com address all work through the same inbox and the same login.

Most people encounter Live.com email when they set up a Microsoft account — for example, to use Windows on a computer, to buy something from the Microsoft Store, or to use OneDrive (Microsoft's cloud storage). You do not have to use a Live.com address; you can use any email address you already own. But if you do not have one, Microsoft will offer to create a Live.com address for you during setup.

Key Takeaways

  • Live.com is a free email service owned by Microsoft that you can create and use without paying anything.
  • A Live.com address, a Hotmail address, and an Outlook.com address all use the same Microsoft email system and inbox.
  • You can read and send Live.com email through a web browser on any computer, or through the Outlook app on a phone.
  • Microsoft uses Live.com accounts to connect you to other services like OneDrive, Xbox, and the Microsoft Store.

How to create a Live.com email address

Go to outlook.live.com in your web browser. Click the link that says "Create account" or "Create Microsoft account" — the exact wording changes, but it is always near the login box. You will be asked to enter a new email address (the part before @live.com), a password, your first and last name, your country, and your birth date.

Microsoft will also ask you to verify that you are a person, not a computer program trying to create thousands of accounts. This usually means typing in a code that appears in a distorted image, or answering a straightforward question. Once you finish, your Live.com address is ready to use when ready.

You do not need a credit card or any payment information. The account is completely free. Microsoft makes money from other services, not from charging for email.

How to use Live.com email

Once you have created your account, you can log in at outlook.live.com using your email address and password. The inbox shows all the messages people have sent you. Click on any message to read it. To send a new message, click "New message" or a button that says "Compose," type in the recipient's email address, write your subject line and message, and click "Send."

You can also set up the Outlook app on your phone — available for both iPhone and Android — and read your email there instead of in a web browser. The app works the same way: your messages appear in your inbox, and you can read and send from your phone.

Live.com email includes basic features like folders (so you can organize messages), a spam filter (to keep unwanted messages out of your inbox), and the ability to attach files to messages. If you need more advanced features — like the ability to undo a sent message within a few seconds, or to schedule a message to send at a specific time — those are available in Outlook.com, which is the newer version of the same service.

The difference between Live.com, Hotmail, and Outlook.com

These three names refer to the same email system. Hotmail was the original email service, created in the 1990s. Microsoft bought it in 1997. For many years, Hotmail was the main way people accessed Microsoft email.

Outlook.com is the newer version that Microsoft launched in 2012. It has a more modern design and more features than Hotmail had. Microsoft gradually moved all Hotmail users to the Outlook system, so if you have an old Hotmail address, it now works through Outlook behind the scenes.

Live.com is another name for the same service. Microsoft created Live.com addresses around the same time as Outlook.com. Today, all three — Live.com, Hotmail, and Outlook.com — use the same inbox, the same login, and the same features. The name on your address does not matter; they all work identically.

Why you might use Live.com instead of another email service

If you already use Microsoft products — Windows, OneDrive, Xbox, or the Microsoft Store — a Live.com address connects to all of them automatically. You can use the same login for everything. This is convenient if you are already in the Microsoft ecosystem.

Live.com is also a good choice if you want a straightforward, free email service with no ads in your inbox. Gmail is free too, but it scans your messages to show you targeted ads. Outlook and Live.com do not do this. If privacy from advertising matters to you, that is a real difference.

That said, Gmail is more widely used, and some people prefer it. Yahoo Mail is another option. The choice between them comes down to personal preference — they all do the same basic job of sending and receiving email.

Security and keeping your Live.com account safe

Your Live.com password is the key to your email and any Microsoft services connected to it. Use a password that is hard to guess — not your name or birthday, and not a word from the dictionary. A mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols is strongest.

Microsoft also offers two-factor authentication, which adds a second step to logging in. After you type your password, Microsoft sends a code to your phone or a backup email address. You have to enter that code before you can access your account. This makes it much harder for someone else to log in, even if they somehow learn your password. You can turn this on in your account settings.

If you forget your password, you can reset it using a backup email address or phone number you provided when you created the account. This is why it is important to keep that information up to date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Live.com email address?

You cannot change the address itself — @live.com addresses are permanent. But you can create a new Live.com address and forward all your mail from the old one to the new one. You can also add an alias (an alternate address that sends to the same inbox) in your account settings.

Is Live.com email still active, or did Microsoft shut it down?

Live.com email is still active and fully supported by Microsoft. You can create new accounts and use existing ones. Microsoft is not phasing it out. The company straightforward uses Outlook.com as the main name for the service now, but Live.com addresses work exactly the same way.

Do I need a Live.com email to use Windows or Microsoft products?

No. You can use any email address you own — Gmail, Yahoo, or anything else — to create a Microsoft account and use Windows, OneDrive, or the Microsoft Store. Microsoft will offer to create a Live.com address for you if you do not have one, but it is optional.

What happens if I do not use my Live.com account for a long time?

Microsoft may close inactive accounts after a long period of non-use (typically a year or more with no login). If you want to keep your account, log in occasionally. If your account is closed, you may be able to recover it by contacting Microsoft support.

Can I use Live.com email for work?

Live.com is designed for personal use. For work email, most businesses use Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365), which provides business email addresses and more advanced features. If your employer uses Microsoft 365, they will set up a work email for you.