If you have been using a Windows Live Hotmail account for a long time, you may not have realized that your account has an expiration date. This means that if you don’t use your account for a certain period, your account may be deactivated permanently. Here’s what you need to know about when your Windows Live Hotmail account expires and how to avoid losing access to your account.

First, keep in mind that the Windows Live Hotmail service no longer exists. It was replaced by Outlook.com in 2013, but if you had a Hotmail account, it was automatically upgraded to an Outlook.com account. Therefore, when we refer to a Windows Live Hotmail account, we mean an Outlook.com account.

According to Microsoft, your Outlook.com account will expire if you don’t log in for more than 365 days. If you don’t sign in within that period, your account will be closed and all your emails, contacts, and other data will be permanently deleted. This is done to ensure that unused accounts don’t take up valuable server space and to protect your privacy.

To avoid losing access to your Outlook.com account, you should log in regularly. This will ensure that your account remains active and that you don’t lose any of your important data. If you’re going to be away from your computer or mobile device for an extended period, you can set up your account to send you a reminder to log in before your account expires.

To set up a reminder, sign in to your Outlook.com account, click on the settings icon (the gear icon) in the top right corner of the page, and select “Options.” Then, under “Manage your account,” click on “View your account settings” and scroll down to “Other options.” Here, you’ll see the option to “Send me an email reminder” if your account is inactive for a certain period. You can select the frequency of the reminders (every three months, six months, or yearly) and the number of reminders you want to receive.

If your account does expire, you can still recover it within a certain period. Microsoft allows you to reactivate a closed account within 60 days of its closure. To do this, you’ll need to sign in to your account using the same email address and password that you used before, and follow the instructions to reactivate your account. However, after 60 days, your account and all its data will be permanently deleted, and you won’t be able to recover them.

In conclusion, it’s essential to know when your Outlook.com account expires and to log in regularly to avoid losing access to your account. You can also set up reminders to ensure that you don’t forget to sign in, and if your account does expire, try to reactivate it within the 60-day window. By following these steps, you can ensure that your account remains active and that you don’t lose any of your important data.