To sync a Hotmail account on an iPhone, open Settings > Apps > Mail > Mail Accounts > Add Account and tap Outlook.com. (On iOS 17 and earlier, go to Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account.) Enter your Hotmail address and password, approve the permissions Microsoft asks for, then turn on Mail, Contacts, and Calendars and tap Save. Your Hotmail email then shows up in the iPhone Mail app, and your contacts and calendar sync automatically.
Hotmail is now part of Outlook.com, which is why you choose Outlook.com instead of a Hotmail option. Your @hotmail.com address still works exactly the same.
How to add Hotmail to the iPhone Mail app
- Open Settings.
- Scroll down and tap Apps, then Mail. On iOS 17 or earlier, tap Mail directly.
- Tap Mail Accounts (or Accounts), then Add Account.
- Tap Outlook.com.
- Enter your full Hotmail address, such as name@hotmail.com, and tap Next.
- Enter your password. If you use two-step verification, approve the sign-in or enter the code Microsoft sends you.
- Tap Accept or Yes to let your iPhone access your mail, contacts, and calendars.
- Choose what to sync. Turn on Mail, plus Contacts, Calendars, and Reminders if you want them.
- Tap Save.
Open the Mail app. Your Hotmail inbox appears under Mailboxes, and new emails start downloading within a minute or two.
Option 2: Use the Microsoft Outlook app
- Install Microsoft Outlook from the App Store.
- Open it and tap Add Account.
- Enter your Hotmail address, tap Continue, and sign in.
The Outlook app gives you features the iPhone Mail app doesn’t, like the Focused Inbox, Hotmail’s own folders and rules, and quicker notifications for some accounts. You can use both apps at the same time.
Change how often Hotmail syncs
- Go to Settings > Apps > Mail > Mail Accounts (or Settings > Mail > Accounts).
- Tap Fetch New Data.
- Turn on Push at the top so new mail arrives right away.
- Tap your Hotmail account and choose Push. If Push isn’t available, choose Fetch and set a schedule, such as every 15 minutes.
To download more old email, tap your Hotmail account under Mail Accounts and look for Mail Days to Sync. Choose a longer range, such as No Limit.
If Hotmail isn’t syncing on your iPhone
- Check your password. Sign in at outlook.com in Safari. If you recently changed your password, go to your account in Settings and sign in again.
- Look for a security alert. Microsoft sometimes blocks new sign-ins until you confirm them. Check your email or the Microsoft account website for an unusual sign-in notice.
- Turn Mail back on. Make sure the Mail switch is on in your Hotmail account settings.
- Check your connection. Switch between Wi-Fi and cellular data. In Settings > Cellular, make sure Mail is allowed to use cellular data.
- Turn off Low Power Mode. It can pause background email fetching.
- Remove and re-add the account. Tap your Hotmail account, tap Delete Account, then add it again. This removes the copy on your iPhone only. Your email stays safe on Microsoft’s servers.
- Update iOS. Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
Using IMAP instead
You usually don’t need manual settings. If you have to set up Hotmail as an IMAP account, for example in another mail app, Microsoft’s settings are outlook.office365.com on port 993 (SSL) for incoming mail and smtp-mail.outlook.com on port 587 (STARTTLS) for outgoing mail. Microsoft now requires modern sign-in for most apps, so the Outlook.com option or the Outlook app is more reliable than a manual setup.
For current steps, see setting up Outlook on iPhone.
Frequently asked questions
Does Hotmail still exist?
Yes. Hotmail addresses still work, but the service is now called Outlook.com. You sign in the same way.
Will syncing Hotmail delete anything on my iPhone?
No. Adding the account only downloads your Hotmail email, contacts, and calendars. Deleting an email in the Mail app deletes it from your Hotmail account too, though, since they stay in sync.
Can I sync Hotmail contacts without email?
Yes. When choosing what to sync, turn off Mail and leave Contacts on.
Is it the same on an iPad?
Yes. See how to sync a Hotmail account on an iPad for iPad-specific notes.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.