Hotmail is a free webmail service that has been owned by Microsoft since 1997. In 2013, it was integrated with another Microsoft mail client, Outlook.com. Since then, Windows Live Hotmail (or “Hotmail”) has been accessible as a distinct service through Outlook.com.

Despite this integration, millions of people worldwide still use this webmail client on both PCs and mobile devices, including those running iOS and Android.

What useful features does Hotmail offer to users, and what are the requirements for new users wanting to create a Hotmail account? PVApins will provide a quick guide through the app.

What Are the Features of Hotmail?

Staying competitive in the tough rivalry with Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, and other players is not easy for Hotmail, but it offers a range of important features in both its free and paid versions.

With the basic functionality, you can:

With the basic functionality, you can:

• Send attachments up to 10 GB as a URL, similar to Gmail, with the file hosted on Microsoft’s cloud storage, OneDrive, which provides 1TB of storage space with options for expansion.
• Exchange messages and attachments at high speeds through Windows Live Messenger, formerly MSN Messenger, the pioneer of live chat.
• Access your email from other webmail mobile apps and desktop clients thanks to IMAP support.
• Organize your email with personal folders, allowing you to classify by date, person, or category according to your preferences.
• Track important events and manage updates from connections by synchronizing your Hotmail with Facebook and LinkedIn.
• Benefit from virus scanning and spam filtering protection.
• Customize your Hotmail account with various themes and color schemes to enhance your aesthetic experience and uplift your mood.

If these features don’t meet your needs, you can always opt for a Hotmail Plus subscription.

How Does Hotmail Plus Compare to the Free Version?

• Enhanced security measures to protect your account from phishing attacks and malware, including advanced detection methods for attachments.
• Email encryption options, including basic encryption within the Microsoft 365 system and encryption with forwarding protection. The basic method keeps emails encrypted within Microsoft 365, while Outlook.com and Microsoft 365 users can download attachments without encryption. Users of other email services will need a special code to decrypt attachments. The forwarding protection ensures attachments remain encrypted (for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) even after downloading.
• The ability to personalize your email address (note: this feature is available until November 30, 2023 — existing personalized addresses will remain active).
• Up to 50GB of storage space, allowing for more data storage, and the removal of all advertising.

So, how can you become a new user of Windows Live Hotmail? Let’s find out.

How to Set Up a New Hotmail Account

Both Windows Live Hotmail and Outlook.com require a Microsoft account to access them. Therefore, when you attempt to log in to these services, you will be automatically redirected to login.live.com.

If you already have a Microsoft account, you can use your existing credentials to log in to both Windows Live Hotmail and Outlook.com.

To find out how to create a new Hotmail account, follow these simple instructions:

• To access the sign-up form, click the “Create a free account” button at the bottom of the page. Next, select a domain name from the two options: @hotmail.com or @outlook.com. 
• Provide Microsoft with additional personal details, such as your name, date of birth, gender, phone number, and place of residence. 
• Then, complete the CAPTCHA challenge and click “Next.” 
• Click “Confirm” to finalize your application. 
• Finally, verify your account by entering the code sent to you via text message or email.

Therefore, confirming your phone number is a required step in the registration process that cannot be skipped. However, you can use a virtual phone number to create a Hotmail account with an Afghanistan virtual number.

Can I set up a Hotmail account without providing a phone number?

The ideal solution is to use a virtual phone number, which enables you to access Hotmail without needing to provide your phone number.

PVApins is a trustworthy provider of virtual phone numbers for receiving SMS. You can select from over 156 countries to register with more than 1,000 platforms, including social media, messaging apps, delivery services, ride-hailing apps, and more. To use online SMS verification for your Hotmail account, follow these steps:

Here is a step-by-step guide to using a virtual phone number:

1. Please visit PVAPins.com and create an account.

2. Deposit funds into your PVAPins account.

3. Select the Afghanistan online number service Hotmail.

4. Copy the virtual number provided by PVAPins.

5. Open the Hotmail and start the verification process.

6. When prompted for a phone number, paste the virtual number from PVAPins.

7. Wait for the verification code to arrive at your virtual number.

8. Return to PVAPins, refresh the page, and collect the verification code.

9. Enter the code into Hotmail to verify your number.