Use a Windows Live Hotmail account in Outlook

Learn about the Microsoft Office Outlook Connector

The Outlook Connector enables you to use your Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Contacts, and Windows Live Calendar within Outlook.

Note You can view and edit your Windows Live Calendar in Outlook, however, your Outlook calendar will not be available on Windows Live.

Download and install the Outlook Connector

1. Exit Outlook.
2. Download the Microsoft Office Outlook Connector.
3. When prompted to open or save the file, click Open.
4. When prompted to run the software, click Run.

   Note You may see a security prompt, depending on which operating system or Web browser you use. If you see such a dialog box, you must click the option to continue with the installation.

5. Follow the instructions on your screen to complete the installation.
6. The next time you start Outlook, you are prompted to configure the Outlook Connector. Enter the following information:
   • Your e-mail address
   • Your password
   • Your name as you want it to appear in the receiver's Inbox
7. Click OK.

   

   After Outlook opens, your Windows Live Hotmail account appears in the Navigation Pane (Navigation Pane: The column on the left side of the Outlook window that includes panes such as Shortcuts or Mail and the shortcuts or folders within each pane. Click a folder to show the items in the folder.).
   

   

Add an additional Windows Live Hotmail account

1. On the Outlook Connector menu, click Add a New Account.

   Note The Outlook Connector menu only appears if the Outlook Connector is installed.

   

2. Enter the following information:
   • Your e-mail address
   • Your password
   • Your name as you want it to appear in the receiver's Inbox
3. Click OK.

   A dialog box appears to notify you that you must exit and restart Outlook to see the new account. Click OK.

Remove a Windows Live Hotmail account

Follow the instructions for the version of Office Outlook you are using.

Office Outlook 2007

1. On the Tools menu, click Account Settings.

   

2. On the E-mail tab, click the Windows Live Hotmail account you want to remove.
3. Click Remove.
4. Click Yes to confirm that you want to remove the account.
5. Click Close.

Office Outlook 2003

1. On the Tools menu, click E-mail Accounts.
2. Select View or change existing e-mail accounts, and then click Next.
3. On the E-mail tab, click the Windows Live Hotmail account, and then click Remove.
4. Click Yes to confirm that you want to remove the account.
5. Click Finish.

You can uninstall the Outlook Connector in Control Panel in Windows. For more information on removing programs, see Windows Help and Support.

Update a Windows Live Hotmail account password

If you change your Windows Live Hotmail account password, you must also update the information in Outlook. You first change your password at the Windows Live Hotmail Web site, and then you update the password that is saved in Outlook.

Follow the instructions for the version of Office Outlook you are using.

Office Outlook 2007

1. On the Tools menu, click Account Settings.

   

2. On the E-mail tab, click the Windows Live Hotmail account you want to update.
3. Click Change.
4. On the E-mail tab, click the Windows Live Hotmail account, and then click Change.

   

5. In the Password box, type your new password.
6. Click OK.
7. On the Account Settings dialog box, click Close.

Office Outlook 2003

1. On the Tools menu, click E-mail Accounts.
2. Select View or change existing e-mail accounts, and then click Next.
3. On the E-mail tab, click the Windows Live Hotmail account, and then click Change.

   

4. In the Password box, type your new password.
5. Click OK.
6. On the E-mail Accounts dialog box, click Finish.

Synchronize calendars from Windows Live Calendar

With the Outlook Connector, you can view your calendars from Windows Live Calendar in Microsoft Office Outlook, including other people’s calendars that have been shared with you. By managing your calendars in Outlook, you can take advantage of the time-management features that Outlook offers such as viewing multiple calendars in Outlook at the same time. With Outlook 2007 and the Outlook Connector, you can also:

• view tasks and flagged messages beneath your appointments on the days in which they are due
• Categorize your appointments with custom color categories
• Overlay multiple calendars

Additionally, any changes you make to your Windows Live Calendar calendars in Outlook are automatically synchronized with the Web version in your Windows Live Hotmail account.

Note You can view and edit your Windows Live Calendar in Outlook, however, your Outlook calendar will not be available on Windows Live.