To use Windows Live, you need to create a Windows Live ID—an email address and password that you use to sign in to all Windows Live sites and services, including Hotmail, Messenger, and SkyDrive. A Windows Live ID also gets you into other Microsoft sites such as Xbox LIVE, Zune, and Office Live.
If you want to use Hotmail, create a new email address. If you don't need a Hotmail inbox, you can use an email address you already have as your Windows Live ID.
To sign up for a Windows Live ID
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Go to the
Windows Live ID sign-up
webpage.
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To use your own email address for your Windows Live ID, enter it. If your email provider supports POP3, you can even manage your old address in Hotmail.
-or-
To get a Hotmail inbox, click
Or get a Windows Live email address
, and then create a new email address for your Windows Live ID.
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Provide the rest of the information, and then read the
Microsoft service agreement
and the privacy statement. If you agree to the terms, click I accept.
If you used an existing email address to sign up, you'll need to verify it to prove that it's yours. For more information, see Why do I need to verify my email address?
If you have trouble with the characters in the picture, see How do I match the characters in the picture?
