07/04/2007 Web Developer

If you forget your password, you have to reset it before you can use the Windows Live ID service again. You can reset your password by sending yourself a password reset e-mail message or answering your secret question.

1. In the sign-in box, click Forgot your password?



2. In the E-mail address box, type the e-mail address that you used to create your Windows Live ID.

3. Type the characters that you see in the Picture box, and then click Continue.



4. Do one of the following:

Send yourself a password reset e-mail message

A. Click Send yourself a password reset e-mail message.

B. If you added an alternate e-mail address to your credentials, click Send an e-mail message to my alternate e-mail address, and then click Send Message.

or

If you use the Save my e-mail address and password option when you sign in, click the option to send an e-mail message to your usual e-mail address, and then click Send Message. You'll be able to access your e-mail because your password was automatically saved.

C. Open your alternate e-mail account, and follow the instructions in the password reset e-mail message.

Answer your secret question

A. Click Provide account information and answer your secret question.

B. In the Country/Region list, select the name of your country or region, type your ZIP code (The postal code system that is used in the United States. The ZIP code consists of a series of digits that are added to a postal address. The ZIP code is used to identify each postal delivery area for the purpose of sorting mail.) or postal code ( A series of letters and/or digits that are added to a postal address and used by the postal service for the purpose of sorting mail.) if prompted to do so, and then type your answer to the question in the Question area in the Secret Answer box.

C. Click Continue.

D. Enter and confirm a new password, and then click Continue.

E. Click Done.

Notes

• If you use the Save my e-mail address and password option when you sign in to Hotmail, you can recover your password by having the reset e-mail sent to your Hotmail account. You'll be able to access your e-mail because your password was automatically saved.
• To set your password to expire every 72 days, select the Password expiration check box. If you turn on this feature, you'll receive a reminder when you need to change your password.
• Even a strong password can be guessed. People who have enough time and computing power can eventually determine any password. To help protect your personal information, security experts recommend that you change your password regularly and avoid repeating the previously used passwords.