If you’ve upgraded to Outlook.com, you can continue to use your @hotmail.com, @live.com, or @msn.com email address. Or you can get a new @outlook.com address by adding an alias or creating a whole new account.
Here’s a brief explanation of the differences.
Add an alias: When you add an alias you’re not creating a new account, you’re simply adding a new Outlook email address to your existing Microsoft account. You can have multiple aliases on one account.
Create a new email account: You can start fresh with a whole new Outlook.com account.
Here’s more info for some common situations:
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If you add an alias:
Your existing messages, contacts, and settings don’t change.
The alias uses the same inbox, contact list, and settings as the primary email address.
Your Microsoft account sign-in info doesn’t change, so any devices you use Hotmail on will continue to send and receive mail.
You can send email from your new Outlook alias or your primary (old) address when you use Outlook.com. But email sent from your phone or apps like Windows Mail will always come from your primary address.
If you create a new Outlook.com account:
This is a fresh start—messages, contacts, settings, and subscriptions in your old account aren't shared or migrated over to the new account.
You can link your old and new accounts, which makes it easier to switch back and forth.
If you add an alias:
You can use your email account on your Windows Phone uninterrupted.
You can receive email sent to the new @outlook.com address on your phone, but can only send email from your primary (current) address.
If you create a new Outlook.com account, you’ll need to set it up as a separate email account on your Windows Phone.
If you add an alias, your services won’t be affected.
If you create a new Outlook.com account, and want to move those services over, you’ll need to cancel the services on the old account and sign up for them on the new account.
