How to Sign In to Microsoft Outlook

To sign in to Outlook on the web, go to outlook.com, select Sign in, and enter your full email address and password. Work and school accounts sign in at outlook.office365.com instead. In the Outlook app on Windows, add your account the first time you open it, or later from File > Add Account (classic Outlook) or View > View settings > Accounts (new Outlook).

This guide covers personal Microsoft accounts (Outlook.com, Hotmail, Live and MSN addresses) and work or school accounts, in a web browser, the Outlook apps for Windows, and the Outlook mobile app. It also covers what to do when you can’t sign in.

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Illustration of where to sign in to Outlook for each account type — Illustration: where to sign in to Outlook for each kind of account.

Which Account Do You Have?

Microsoft’s Microsoft account sign-in guide explains the difference. A personal Microsoft account is the one you use for Outlook.com, Xbox or a personal Microsoft 365 subscription. A work or school account is assigned by your employer or school. The sign-in page and the password reset steps differ, so it helps to know which one you’re using. Microsoft also notes that every alias on a personal account uses the same password.

Sign In to Outlook.com (Personal Account)

Go to outlook.com and select Sign in. The Microsoft sign-in page opens.
Enter your email address or phone number, and select Next. Microsoft asks for your password or another way to verify.

Microsoft sign-in page with the email field and Next button — Enter your email address or phone number on the Microsoft sign-in page, then select Next to continue to Outlook.

Enter your password, or approve the request in the Microsoft Authenticator app if you’ve set that up.
Choose whether to stay signed in. Select No on a shared or public computer. Your inbox opens.

Recreated Microsoft Stay signed in prompt detail with unchecked Do not show this again checkbox and No and Yes buttons highlighted together — Choose whether to stay signed in. Use No on a public or shared computer. This recreated prompt detail follows Microsoft’s example; the account header is outside the detail and the checkbox remains unchecked.

Microsoft’s Outlook.com sign-in page notes that you may be asked to confirm it’s you when you travel or use a new device. That’s a security check, not a problem with your account. If a device you no longer use is still signed in, you can remove it from your Outlook.com account.

Sign In With a Work or School Account

These steps follow Microsoft’s How to sign in to Outlook on the web.

Go to Microsoft365.com, or straight to outlook.office365.com. You may be signed in automatically on a work PC.
If asked, enter your work or school email address and password, and complete any two-step verification. You’re signed in.
If you started at Microsoft365.com, select Outlook from the app launcher. Your work mailbox opens.

Recreated Microsoft 365 app launcher Apps first-row detail with Outlook highlighted beside OneDrive and neutral gray app icons — Open the app launcher and choose Outlook. This recreated Apps row isolates the shared Outlook entry; app logos are replaced with gray tiles. The full launcher and available apps can vary by organization and version.

If you end up in the wrong mailbox, Microsoft says to sign out and sign in again with the correct account, or use the account manager to switch.

Sign In to the Outlook App on Windows

New Outlook for Windows

Open Outlook. The first time, enter your email address under the suggested accounts and select Continue. Outlook starts setting up your account.
To add an account later, select View > View settings (or File > Account info), then Accounts > Your accounts. Your email accounts are listed.
Select Add Account, choose a suggested account or type an email address, and select Continue. Enter your password if asked. The account is added and its mail syncs.

Recreated new Outlook Add all your email accounts dialog with fictional alex at example dot com under Suggested accounts and Continue highlighted — After Add Account in new Outlook, choose a suggested account or enter your address and select Continue. This recreated dialog uses alex@example.com and neutral gray tiles in place of provider logos; account-specific authentication follows separately.

Microsoft’s add an email account guide notes that Gmail, Yahoo and iCloud may require you to change settings on their own websites first.

If Outlook rejects an AOL password, the app password steps for signing in to AOL Mail usually fix it.

Classic Outlook

Select File > Add Account. The first time you open Outlook, a welcome screen appears instead. A box asks for your email address.
Enter your email address and select Connect. Outlook asks for your password.

Enter your password, select OK, then Finish. Your account appears in the folder pane.

Sign In on a Phone

Install Outlook from the App Store or Google Play, open it, and tap Add Account. If the app finds an account already on your phone, you can add it with one tap; otherwise, enter your email address and password.

If you’d rather see Outlook events in the iPhone Calendar app, here’s how to sync your Outlook calendar with iPhone.

If You Can’t Sign In

Illustration of fixes when you cannot sign in to Outlook — Illustration: what to check when you can’t sign in to Outlook.

Use the full email address, including the part after @.
Personal account: reset a forgotten password at account.live.com/password/reset, or use Microsoft’s sign-in helper.
Work or school account: use passwordreset.microsoftonline.com if your admin allows it; otherwise contact your IT department.
Unusual activity checks: follow the prompts to verify by email, text or the Authenticator app.
The Outlook app won’t open at all: see what to do when Outlook won’t open.

Microsoft support agents aren’t allowed to send password reset links, so ignore anyone who contacts you offering one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Outlook free?

Yes. Outlook.com and the Outlook apps are free with a personal Microsoft account. Some features need a Microsoft 365 subscription.

How do I sign out?

On the web, select your profile picture or initials in the top-right corner and choose Sign out. Always sign out on shared or public computers. In the Outlook app, closing the window doesn’t sign you out, so lock or sign out of Windows when you share a PC.

Can I sign in to Outlook with a Gmail address?

You can add a Gmail account to the Outlook app, but to use Outlook.com itself you need a Microsoft account. You can create one using an email address you already have, or create a free Outlook email account to get a new address.

How do I change my password?

Follow the steps for changing your password in Microsoft Outlook.

Matthew Burleigh

Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.

Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are checked step by step against the device or app maker’s own documentation and tested on his own devices whenever he has the hardware or software, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.

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