Microsoft Email Support

What is email?

Email is a message transmitted electronically between two devices over a network. An email message consists of a header which has the originator's email address, one or more recipient addresses, the date and time the message was sent and the message's subject.  Email addresses consist of a name and domain name separated by an @ symbol. Every email also includes a message body which contains the message being sent.

What happened to Windows Mail and Outlook Express?

Windows Mail was the email program included with Windows Vista. Outlook Express was the email program included with Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Me and Windows 98. If you are using Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7, you can use Windows Live Mail for your email messaging.

Get Windows Live Mail for Windows 7 and Windows Vista
For Windows Vista and newer versions of Windows, Windows Live Mail is available. This replaces Windows Mail which was provided on Windows Vista.

Setting up Windows Mail with Windows Vista
Perform these simple steps for setting up Windows Mail in Windows Vista.

Need help with Microsoft products for email?

Microsoft provides fully featured email applications which enable you to read email, manage your inbox, setup multiple email accounts, open attachments, and much more. For tips, tutorials, problems, and errors for Windows email clients, select the appropriate link below.

• Windows Live Mail Help Center
• Working with Windows Mail in Windows Vista
• Support for Outlook Express if you are running Windows XP or older
• Email with Microsoft Office Outlook

Learn more about Windows Live Mail

Using e-mail and the Internet (video)
Learn how to use Windows Live Mail with Internet Explorer 8.

Windows 7 and Windows Live Mail
Windows Mail and Outlook Express aren't included in Windows 7. To use email, you'll need to install a new program. You can download Windows Live Mail for free.

Learn More About Email
Check out the email section of Microsoft At Home to learn more about managing email.

Mobile and email

Windows Phone 6.5 and email
Learn how to send and receive email the same way that you do on your computer. This includes emails with attachments such as text files, photos, sound files, and short videos. Your phone can run multiple email accounts at the same time.

Windows Phone and email
Learn how to access email from your Windows Phone by setting up different types of email accounts. Depending on the email account you set up on your phone, other items from your account can appear on your phone as well.

Setup your phone to sync your Hotmail inbox, calendar and contacts using ActiveSync
Learn how to keep everything in sync between your phone and Hotmail, so whatever you do on your phone, like delete an email, add an appointment, or update one of your contacts with a new number, will also be reflected on the web, and vice-versa.

Learn more about using email on your Windows Phone
See how to set up an email account on your Windows Phone.

Email hoaxes and scams

Don't be fooled by false email
Email hoaxes, scams, phishing and ads continue to grow in numbers as the number of spam emails multiply. Review the basics and learn how to spot fraudulent email.

Computer viruses: description, prevention, and recovery
Learn more about computer viruses, including those spread by email.

Email viruses

Think you have a virus on your computer?
Follow these three simple steps to identify and remove computer viruses and protect your system for free!

Computer virus symptoms
Here are a few primary indicators that your computer might be infected.

Self support options

Windows Live Mail help and how to
Get tips and help for Windows Live Mail.

Microsoft Hotmail help and how to
Get answers to the most frequently asked Microsoft Hotmail questions.

Community

Microsoft Community: Hotmail
Post a question or browse for solutions in the Community forum for Microsoft Hotmail.

Microsoft Community: Outlook
Post a question or browse for solutions in the Community forum for Outlook.

Assisted support