How to Fix Hotmail Not Working on iPhone

Hotmail Not Working on iPhone? Here’s How to Fix Hotmail Access Issues Fast (2025 Guide)

If your **Hotmail isn't working on your iPhone**, you're dealing with a common Microsoft-iOS hiccup. Since Hotmail was migrated into Outlook years ago, iPhones now connect to **Outlook/Hotmail servers**, and even small setting changes can break sync, block login, or stop sending/receiving mail. The good news: most Hotmail access issues on the iPhone can be fixed in minutes.

This tutorial covers the actual reasons and most effective solutions for issues like **Hotmail not syncing**, **Hotmail login failing**, **Hotmail not receiving emails on iPhone**, or **Hotmail not sending mail.

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Is Hotmail Still Available on iPhone in 2025?

Technically, "Hotmail" no longer exists as a separate service. Microsoft rebranded Hotmail into Outlook.com, but your old Hotmail address still works exactly the same. You just sign in through Outlook servers. That’s why iPhone setup should usually be added as an **Outlook.com account**, not a generic email.

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• Why Hotmail Stops Working on iPhone (Most Common Reasons)

When Hotmail does not work on an iPhone, it's usually one of these problems:

1. Weak or unstable internet
2. Incorrect password / saved credentials are outdated**3. **Outage of Microsoft’s server**4. **iPhone Mail App Configuration Issues5. **Mailbox or iPhone storage full6. **Old POP settings instead of IMAP/Exchange7. **iOS bugs / outdated iOS8. **Microsoft security block due to suspicious sign-in

Knowing these helps you pick the right fix.

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Proven Fixes: Hotmail Not Working on iPhone

1. Change your Hotmail password

If your iPhone continues to fail a password that works everywhere else, Microsoft might have flagged your login or required a reset. Updating your password often refreshes device access.

• What to do
• Access your Hotmail/Outlook account on a browser* Go to Microsoft account security* Change password
• Then update the password on the iPhone when prompted

Tip: If you use two-factor authentication, you may need an **App Password** instead of your normal one.

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2. Remove and Re-Add Hotmail Account (Best All-Purpose Fix)

This is the fastest solution for most instances of **Hotmail not syncing on iPhone** or repeated login errors.

• Steps**1. **Settings → Mail → Accounts**2. Tap your **Hotmail/Outlook account.3. Tap **Delete Account**4. Restart iPhone
1. Go to **Add Account → Outlook.com**
2. Sign in again

Why this works: it forces iOS to rebuild connection settings using Microsoft's latest servers.

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3. How to unblock your Hotmail account

Microsoft blocks the account sometimes for suspicious activities-new device, too many failed logins, VPN use. If you can't access it only on your iPhone, check your account status. ([iToolab][1])**Fix*** Open Microsoft sign-in page in Safari

• Try to log in and follow "unblock" or "verify identity"
• If prompted, reset password
• Try on iPhone again
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4. Clear Safari Cache If Web Hotmail Acts Weird

In case of wrong loading of Hotmail in Safari, cleaning cache will be useful. It doesn't affect the Mail app directly but resolves browser login loops.

• Steps**
• Settings → Safari → Clear History & Website Data

Confidence can only be gained by practice.

5. Reinstall the Outlook ApplicationReinstallation clears corrupted app files if the Outlook app is used instead of Apple Mail, and Hotmail keeps crashing or freezing. **Steps**

• Press and hold **Outlook app
• Delete it
• Reinstall from App Store
• Log in again
• 6. Switch POP to IMAP (If You Set It Up Manually)However, POP3 was still in use in some older settings, leading to missing emails or delay in syncing. IMAP is much better for the iPhone because it reflects the server in real time.
• Correct IMAP settings
• Incoming server: `imap-mail.outlook.com`* Port: 993
• SSL: On
• Username: full Hotmail address
• SMTP outgoing
• Server: `smtp-mail.outlook.com`
• Port: 587
• TLS/SSL: OnIf you are not sure, do delete and re-add as Outlook.com instead of manual.
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7. Fix "Hotmail Not Receiving Emails on iPhone" via Fetch Settings

In case the emails arrive late or never show, Fetch may be disabled.

• Steps**
1. Settings → Mail → Accounts → Fetch New Data**
2. Slide **Push ON**
3. Set Fetch to **Automatic** or every 15 minutes
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8. Check the "Other" Inbox Tab

Outlook's Focused Inbox sometimes buries mail in the "Other" category. If you believe mail is missing, it may be sorted there. **Fix**

• In the Outlook app, tap **Focused / Other
• Move important senders into Focused
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9. Have Enough Storage: Mailbox + iPhone

If your mail box or iPhone storage is full, Hotmail may stop syncing and sending. by

Quick clean-up

• Delete old emails and empty "Deleted Items"
• Empty the trash
• Free iPhone storage: **Settings → General → iPhone Storage**---10. Beware of Attachment Size Limits

Hotmail/Outlook only supports attachments of around **20 MB per email**. Large file attachment failures may therefore occur.

• Solution**
• Compress files or share via OneDrive/iCloud link.
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11. Verify SMTP Settings (If You Can’t Send Mail)Able to receive but not send? That's usually incorrect outgoing server configuration.
• Confirm SMTP is `smtp-mail.outlook.com`
• Port 587
• Authentication enabled
• TLS on
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12. Set "Mail Days to Sync" to No Limit

If older emails won't load, your sync window could be limited.

• Steps**
• Settings → Mail → Accounts → Hotmail**
• Tap **Mail Days to Sync
• Choose **No Limit
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13. Update iOS and AppsCompatibility bugs between iOS Mail and Microsoft servers aren't unusual. Keeping iOS and Outlook updated prevents random failures.* **Settings → General → Software Update* App Store → update Outlook
• FAQ: Hotmail iPhone Problems **Q1. Why does Hotmail keep asking for my password on iPhone? Usually because Microsoft security reset your login token. Delete and re-add the account or change the password and sign in again.

Q2. Hotmail works on desktop but not on iPhone — why? That means your account is okay, while the iPhone Mail setup is at fault. Re-add it using **Outlook.com** rather than "Other.

• Q3. What if Hotmail is not syncing folders on an iPhone? Check **Mail Days to Sync = No Limit**, enable Background App Refresh, and ensure the account is IMAP/Exchange and not POP.
• Q4. How do I know if Microsoft servers are down? Try logging in through Safari/another device. If everything fails there too, it's likely a Microsoft outage.
• Q5. Should I use Apple Mail or Outlook app? Outlook application is usually more stable with Hotmail, since it's designed for security and Microsoft sync rules. Back to you:
• Q6. I still can't fix it -- what now? Do a clean reset: 1. update iOS 2. Delete the account 3. restart iPhone 4. re-add as Outlook.com Failure may lock your account temporarily, and then you need to do the browser verification.

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