How to switch from Outlook.com to Hotmail [How-To Guide]
August 7, 2012 575
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Outlook.com is a new free web e-mail service by Microsoft intended to replace Hotmail. Using Outlook.com can be done by creating a new Outlook.com account or upgrading your existing Hotmail account to Outlook.com. If you have used Outlook.com and decided you want to go back to Hotmail, that can be done easily. This guide shows you how to do it.
Before We Begin
Before we being, take note going from Hotmail to Outlook.com does not change your e-mail address. This means if you created a new @outlook.com e-mail, that e-mail will stay with you when you go to Hotmail; if you converted your Hotmail account to Outlook.com, you will still retain the same Hotmail e-mail when you go back.
Also, downgrading from Outlook.com to Hotmail does not result in loss of data. All your e-mails, contacts, folders, etc. are converted with you. The only thing that changes when going from Outlook.com to Hotmail is the user interface; you get the old Hotmail inbox and features back.
Lastly, if you were forced to upgrade to Outlook.com from Hotmail, you cannot revert back to Hotmail. Going from Outlook.com to Hotmail is only for those people that voluntarily upgraded.
UPDATE: It looks like Microsoft is no longer allowing people to revert back to Hotmail from Outlook.com. Sorry people — you are stuck with Outlook.com, you cannot change back!
How To Go Back To Hotmail From Outlook.com (How To Turn Off Outlook.com)
The following are the steps you need to take to covert your Outlook.com account to Hotmail:
Note: To enlarge any images below, simply click on them.
- Login to Outlook.com.
- Once logged in, you will be taken to your Outlook.com inbox. From there click on the gear icon located near the top-right corner:
- Clicking on the gear icon will open a menu. From that menu click on Switch back to Hotmail:
- Next you will be prompted with a message asking for feedback. If you want to provide feedback, click on Send feedback; otherwise, click on Skip feedback:
- Done.
If you opted to send feedback, you will be asked a series of questions after which you will be taken to Hotmail; if you opted to not send feedback, you will be taken directly to Hotmail:
Conclusion
Switching between Hotmail and Outlook.com is very easy and dotTech’s two guides How To Upgrade From Hotmail to Outlook.com and How To Switch from Outlook.com to Hotmail make the process even easier thanks to our step-by-step directions with screenshots. So go, venture into the world of Microsoft e-mail without fear of permanent change. Enjoy!
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@John Smith
What makes you think Microsoft is a democracy. They are after one thing $$$$$$
No way to change back from Outlook to Hotmail. So sad. I hate Outlook,
Gotta love Microsoft……”switch over to our new and improved email system Outlook.com (that takes days to load) and suffer when we don’t allow you to go back to what has worked for years.”
Good luck on your new Office.com products Microsoft…..looks like I’ll be going OpenOffice sooner than later. If you can’t even get free email working (even though you’ve been in this business for years) I look forward to the success of Office.com, Windows 8, and your crappy tablets….
I swear MS wants a certain segment to eave and go elsewhere. It takes the strain off the data centers and gets rid of those with marginal hardware
I am very annoyed that I have been given no choice in this and have been forced by YOU. I had no desire to go to outlook and I was very comfortable with HOTMAIL and have been for years. I do not like OUTLOOK and the ICONS are bloody horrible. I do not like the fact – that it seems to be forcing a person to join ‘Facebook’ etc. I am very disappointed in whoever forced this on me and I don’t understand what gives you the right to impose yourself upon me and what I thought was my private email address!!!! I could say a lot more – but I would be sensored – Shame on you for taking away a persons ‘freedom of choice’
WE ARE APPALLED AND HAVE WRITTEN IN THEIR FEEDBACK TWICE THIS MORNING STATIING THE SAME, AND TOTALLY AGREE AND SUPPORT THE PREVIOUS COMMENTS, HOW DARE THEY ‘DAVID LAWS’ (This is the Head of Outlook,) authorise this, from our research it seems the overwhelming users are not happy, HOW CAN YOU DO THIS WITHOUT AUTHORISATION FROM THE CUSTOMER WHOSE ACCOUNT IS SUPPOSED TO BE PRIVATE??? Furthermore the least that should have been done is each customer being approached should be given 7 days notice and the option to accept or transfer all information to another account if they so wish. Does anyone know if there is anything we can do to challenge this?
Shit Outlook is shit . PLEASE bring back what has worked.
To reiterate. SHIT OUTLOOK IS SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BRING BACK WHAT HAS WORKED.
I do not like Outlook.
I want to continue to use Hotmail.
This is my final answer.
[@TB] [@John M. Burt] [@John M. Burt]
how could i switch off from outlook to hotmail
PS,As many have said here already—YOU CANT!
You could opt to go with 1 of the other providers like
Gmail or you can just stay with Outlook and all of us
who have learned the ropes about this diabolical
user unfriendly System will help you,good luck-DAS.b>[@parvin safizadeh]
why have you done this to me i hate outlook and i cant switch to hotmail
[@peter dear]
My post is just above yours-read it & for Gods sake
stop griping,whats done is done, & if you need help
with the new Format,just say so! DAS.
[@ALAN SHEEHAN.] If you enjoy using Outlook, feel free to explain why and how. If the limit of your “help” is “Shut up, bend over and take it”, then thank you for sharing.
[@SensorOp] The measure of Microsoft’s confidence in the superiority of the “upgrade” to Outlook may be measured in 1) the frequency with which they refer to it as an upgrade and 2) the fact that they adamantly refuse to let us switch back.
Why not give a choice?.Have you ever herd if its not broken do not try and fix it.I think that is mess up.
I don’t like outlook it is really frustrating when you
impose something to some one who didn’t have choice to say yes or no. Better move away to other social network than to go further with outlook.o move
when I tried back to hotmail, I didn’t give me the choice in the tab, so there is nothing after feedback.
Honestly people behind this “rubbish outlook” are putting off people of this kind of network, believe me most of people who experienced the same are feeling the same that is why I am sending this feedback to who ever wants to hear it
Seriously, people, if someone has something nice to say about Outlook, they haven’t spoken where I could hear it.
Everybody who has been changed over to Outlook,
knows by now that it is IMOSSIBLE to change back.
That info has been posted here again and again,if
people are too lazy to read what other posters have
to say,the fault lies with them,so whats your beef JB?
PS:-I thought 7.57am was your final answer?
[@ALAN SHEEHAN.] [@ALAN SHEEHAN.] I do not have anything to add to the statement, “I have no use for Outlook and want to use Hotmail instead”. That is still my final word on Outlook.
Then you are Kaput JB,Hotmail is gone FOREVER!
Sorry,aint we all pal.