How to restore lost Outlook password

Learn how to reset your Microsoft Outlook account password, for example if you forgot it. Microsoft Outlook is now the official email provider for any email address ending in @ hotmail.com. You will therefore use Outlook to reset all of your Hotmail, Live, and Outlook passwords.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: On a mobile

Step 1. Open Outlook

Tap the Outlook app icon, which looks like a small white box with a blue O in it.

Step 2. Tap Start

Skip this step if you have opened Outlook previously.

You should only need to reset your Outlook password if you've never signed in to Outlook on your smartphone or tablet, or if you've recently changed your account password

Step 3. Enter your email address

Type it in the text field in the middle of the page.

Step 4. Tap Add Account

It's under the email address field. You will be redirected to the password entry page.

Skip this step if you reconnect to Outlook after resetting your password or reinstalling the Outlook app

Step 5. Open the Forgot Password link

It sits towards the bottom of the screen.

Step 6. Check the I forgot my password box

This is the option at the very top of the page.

Step 7. Tap Next

It's at the very bottom of your screen.

Step 8. Enter the verification code

Tap the text field Enter the characters that you see, and then type the characters that are in the box that is above the text field.

You can press New next to the code to reset it, if desired.
Letters and numbers to enter in the code field are case sensitive.

Step 9. Tap Next

Step 10. Tap an account recovery option

Choose E-mail Where SMS on this page.

If you haven't saved a secondary phone number, you'll just see E-mail appear on this page.
If you haven't saved an email account or secondary phone number, tap I do not have any. Then do Following, enter a recovery email, and follow the onscreen instructions. It can help you recover your account.

Step 11. Enter your email address or phone number

Tap the text field under the chosen recovery option and type in your full email address (E-mail) or the last four digits of your phone number (SMS) to verify your identity.

Step 12. Press Send Code

It's at the bottom right of the page. A recovery code will be sent to your email address or phone number.

Step 13. Retrieve the code received

To do this, follow the steps below.

E-mail: open your secondary email address, select the email sent by Microsoft Account Team, and note the code displayed next to the Security code heading.
SMS: open the application Messages on your phone, tap the text message sent by Microsoft (often a four-digit phone number), and write down the code in the text message.

Step 14. Enter your recovery code

Tap the text field Enter the code, enter the code you got from your email address or phone and press Following. If your code is correct, the password reset page will open.

Step 15. Enter a new password

Type your new password in the fields New Password and Confirm password, then press Following.

Step 16. Tap Next when it appears

You will be redirected to the login page where you can log into your account using your new password.

Method 2 of 2: With a computer

Step 1. Open the password reset page

Go to the dedicated Outlook page in your browser.

Step 2. Check the Forgot Password box

It's at the top of the page.

Step 3. Click Next

It's at the very bottom of the page.

Step 4. Enter your email address

Enter the Hotmail, Live or Outlook email address associated with the password to reset.

You can also enter your phone number or Skype username if it's associated with your account

Step 5. Enter the verification code

Tap the Enter the characters you see text field, and then type the characters that are in the box that is above the text field.

You can press New next to the code to reset it, if desired.
Letters and numbers in the code field are case sensitive.

Step 6. Click Next

Step 7. Tap an account recovery option